In these short stories, Men of Athens by Olivia Coolidge puts flesh and blood on the history of the Golden Age of Athens-a highly colored panorama of the times and men who made the glory of Athens Golden Age. Here is the barbaric splendor of the Persian court of Sardis; a stirring view of the battle of Salamis; here is Themistocles, the ambassador from Athens, cleverly outmaneuvering the smug and simple Spartans; Criton, the athlete, defending the honor of his city at the Olympic games; the battle of the marketplace where even a potter strives for an excellence worthy of his city. Finally after the flashing brilliance of Athens at its height of power, there is a moving account of the day that Socrates is condemned to death, a verdict that seems to spell the death of Athens itself. A true visit to the world of the Athenian century!