Creation: A NovelCyrus Spitama, grandson of the prophet Zoroaster and lifelong friend of Xerxes, spent most of his life as Persian ambassador for the great king Darius. He traveled to India, where he discussed nirvana with Buddha, and to the warring states of Cathay, where he learned of Tao from Master Li and fished on the riverbank with Confucius. Now blind and aged in Athens -- the Athens of Pericles, Sophocles, Thucydides, Herodotus, and Socrates -- Cyrus recounts his days as he strives to resolve the fundamental questions that have guided his life's journeys: how the universe was created, and why evil was created with good. In revisiting the fifth century b.c. -- one of the most spectacular periods in history -- Gore Vidal illuminates the ideas that have shaped civilizations for millennia. |
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Achaemenid Ajatashatru Ambalika Amestris Anaxagoras army Artaphrenes Aryan asked Athenians Athens Atossa Babylon Bactria Baron K'ang believe Bimbisara brother Buddha Callias Cambyses Caraka Cathay Cathayan ceremony Ch'in chamberlain chancellery Chou Confucius course court Cyrus Spitama Darius death Democedes Democritus duke of Sheh earth Ecbatana Elpinice entirely eunuchs eyes Fan Ch'ih father fire Gobryas gods Greek hand haoma harem heard heaven Hippias Histiaeus honor Huan Hystaspes Indian Ionian Jan Ch'iu killed King King's knew Koshala lady Lais live looked Magadha Magians Mardonius Mardos married Master Middle Kingdom Miletus never noble once palace Pasenadi Pericles Persian priest Prince Jeta Queen Atossa Rajagriha remember river ruler Sardis Sariputra satrap Scylax Shravasti smiled sort Spartan spoke Susa tell temple Themistocles things thought throne told took true tyrant Tzu-lu Varanasi Varshakara voice Wise Lord women Xerxes young Zoroaster