: Iconic Greek victories like Marathon and Salamis are treated as minor border skirmishes that insignificantly hindered Persian interests in much wealthier territories like India and China. The "Axial Age" Exploration
: Spitama views the Greeks as shifty, unhygienic barbarians living in a cultural backwater.
: The only thinker Spitama respects, viewing him as a practical "political animal" focused on social order rather than abstract mysticism.
: His own grandfather, whose dualistic struggle between good and evil forms the core of Spitama's skepticism.
: Iconic Greek victories like Marathon and Salamis are treated as minor border skirmishes that insignificantly hindered Persian interests in much wealthier territories like India and China. The "Axial Age" Exploration
: Spitama views the Greeks as shifty, unhygienic barbarians living in a cultural backwater. Gore Vidal - Creation
: The only thinker Spitama respects, viewing him as a practical "political animal" focused on social order rather than abstract mysticism. : Iconic Greek victories like Marathon and Salamis
: His own grandfather, whose dualistic struggle between good and evil forms the core of Spitama's skepticism. Gore Vidal - Creation