The Book of DieselThe Light Before the Gospel“Artaxerxes eventually entrusted him with cities in Asia Minor. Persian protection did not transform Themistocles into a moral ornament, nor did it erase calculation from the king’s decision. Statesmanship and usefulness walked beside mercy, as they often do.”
The Book of Diesel · Gospel Threshold Edition v4.5
Historically anchoredThe setting or public event is documented; dialogue, motives, and recurring characters are invented.
Ancient sources report that Themistocles, the Athenian statesman associated with the Greek victory at Salamis, fled Greek enemies and received refuge from Artaxerxes I, son of Xerxes. He later governed cities in Asia Minor under Persian authority.
Themistocles and Artaxerxes I are historical. Dātam, the veterans’ supper, and the conversations about asylum and revenge are fictional.