Returning from Kythera last week, my husband and I spent a night in Sparti. Stopping by the statue of a hoplite in front of the stadium by the acropolis, I noted - to my surprise - that it was not identified as Leonidas. At the top of the inscription, instead of a name, were the only the words "Molon Labe." It struck me as the ultimate tribute, as apparently the name was not considered necessary.
My own tribute is a novel in three parts based to the extent possible on the existing historical record. This is so scanty, however, that I unabashedly confess that my Leonidas is a work of fiction. For more about the novel visit my Leonidas website at http://sparta-leonidas-gorgo.com/gorgo.html. Book One, Leonidas of Sparta: A Boy of the Agoge, is already available for sale.
