Over the Wine Dark Sea

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Over the Wine Dark Sea
Author H. N. Turteltaub
Country United States
Language English
Series Hellenic Traders
Genre(s) Historical novel
Publisher Saint Martin's Press
Publication date November 2001
Media type Print (Hardcover & Paperback)
Pages 384 pp (first edition, hardback)
ISBN ISBN 0-312-87660-2 (first edition, hardback)
Preceded by Justinian
Followed by The Gryphon's Skull

Over the Wine Dark Sea, is a novel by H.N. Turteltaub (a pseudonym of Harry Turtledove). It takes place in years shortly after the death of Alexander the Great, and centers on a pair of Greek cousins from Rhodes, Menedemos and Sostratos, who work as sea-going traders. It is the first book of the so-called "Hellenic Traders" series of historical novels.

[edit] Plot summary

The plot of the book centers around the cousins voyaging around the Greek parts of the Mediterranean Sea. They trade a great many things on their ship, the Aphrodite, including, much to the chagrin of many on board, peacocks.

During their voyage they encounter pirates, other traders and get caught up in conflicts between some of Alexander's former generals, including Antigonos.

[edit] Cultural references

The book contains several references to Classical Greek culture, including The Odyssey, The Iliad (both based on the author's own translations), Aristophanes, Sophokles, Sokrates, and Platon.