Ancient Manichaeism was a pacificist religion, and does not seem to have encouraged even its elect to follow the prophet Mani into the spirit-world. These apart, the bizarre religious views of Iudex in this novel are authentic.

An enjoyable way into the religion is via its most famous sometime follower, as analysed by Robin Lane Fox in Augustine: Conversions and Confessions (London, 2015). More conventional, and harder going, is N. J. Baker-Brian, Manichaeism: An Ancient Faith Rediscovered (London and New York, 2011).

The Heruli

A short essay on this obscure but fascinating and extraordinary tribe can be found in the Historical Afterword to my novel The Wolves of the North (2012).

Quotes

The poem that ends Chapter 8 is an extract from an anonymous epigram in The Greek Anthology (Harmondsworth, revised edition, 1981), no. 772 (10.118), translated by Peter Jay.

The conversation between Narses and the customs official in Chapter 12 is adapted from The Life of Apollonius by Philostratus (1.21; and 27).

The two poems recited in Chapter 12 are by Asklepiades and Palladas, and can be found in The Greek Anthology: no. 61 (5.210); and Appendix 2 (11.381); both translations are by K. Rexroth, although the latter is from M. Grant (ed.), Greek Literature (Harmondsworth, 1976), 310.

In Chapter 19, when Valens recalls Book 9 of the Odyssey, I have used the translation of Robert Fagles (London, 1997), here and there slightly altered.

When Narses justifies Persian exposure of the dead and ill in Chapter 24 he is echoing Agathias, as translated by Averil Cameron in Dumbarton Oaks Papers 23/24 (1969/1970), 67–183.

The famous lines of the Iliad (6.447–8) in Chapter 30 are from the translation by Richmond Lattimore (Chicago and London, 1951).

Acknowledgements

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

In every novel the cast of characters changes, but those who are thanked remains much the same. Without the encouragement and support, as well as the criticism and forbearance, of the following this novel would not have been written or published.

Family: my wife Lisa, my sons Tom and Jack, my mother Frances and my aunt Terry.

Professionals and friends: Kate Parkin, James Horobin, Stephen Dumughn, Francesca Russell, Clare Kelly, and Claire Johnson-Creek at Bonnier Zaffre; and James Gill at United Agents.

Friends: in Oxfordshire Peter and Rachel Cosgrove, Jeremy Tinton, and Maria Stamatopoulou; in Suffolk Jack Ringer and Sandra Haines, Fiona and Michael Dunne. This novel is dedicated to the latter.

About the Author

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Harry Sidebottom was brought up in racing stables in Newmarket where his father was a trainer. He took his Doctorate in Ancient History at Oxford University and has taught at various universities, including Oxford. His career as a novelist began with his Warrior of Rome series.

Also by Harry Sidebottom

Fiction

Fire in the East

King of Kings

Lion of the Sun

The Caspian Gates

The Wolves of the North

The Amber Road

Iron & Rust

Blood & Steel

Fire & Sword

The Last Hour

Non-Fiction

Ancient Warfare

The Encyclopedia of Ancient Battles

(With Michael Whitby)

Letter from Author

Dear Reader,