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Ratings: ★★★★★ (4.7/5)
Genre: History, Ancient History, Greek History

Book Review:
Paul Cartledge, one of the world's leading historians of ancient Greece, turns his attention to a long-overlooked subject in ''Thebes: The Forgotten City of Ancient Greece.'' With his characteristic erudition, clarity, and passion, Cartledge rescues this powerful and influential city-state from the shadows of its more famous rivals, Athens and Sparta.

Thebes was a major player in the tumultuous history of classical Greece. It was the city of Oedipus, the setting for some of the greatest Greek myths and tragedies. It was a military powerhouse, whose elite Sacred Band was one of the most formidable fighting forces of its time. Under the brilliant leadership of Epaminondas, Thebes humbled Sparta at the battle of Leuctra and briefly became the dominant power in Greece. Yet, despite its importance, Thebes has been largely forgotten, its story overshadowed by the more familiar narratives of its neighbors.

Cartledge masterfully fills this gap. He traces the city's history from its mythical origins through its rise to prominence, its bitter rivalry with Athens and Sparta, its moment of glory under Epaminondas, and its eventual destruction by Alexander the Great. He brings to life its key figures, its cultural achievements, and its political struggles. He also explores the city's rich mythological heritage, showing how the stories of Oedipus, Antigone, and others were rooted in Theban history.

''Thebes'' is a masterful work of historical scholarship, written with the general reader in mind. Cartledge's prose is lively and engaging, and he has a gift for making complex historical events clear and compelling. As Bettany Hughes notes, this is ''an incisive, inspiring and vitally illuminating account of a city which changed the ancient world and which deserves to be remembered by the modern.'' Essential reading for anyone interested in ancient Greece.