Over the Wine Dark Sea

Over the Wine Dark Sea
Author H. N. Turteltaub
Country United States
Language English
Series Hellenic Traders
Genre Historical novel
Publisher Forge Books (Tor)
Publication date
November 2001
Media type Print (Hardcover & Paperback)
Pages 384 pp (first edition, hardback)
ISBN 0-312-87660-2 (first edition, hardback)
OCLC 45888895
813/.54 21
LC Class PS3570.U758 O94 2001
Followed by The Gryphon's Skull

Over the Wine Dark Sea is a historical novel by H.N. Turteltaub (a pseudonym of Harry Turtledove), first published by Forge Books in November 2001. The book was reissued under the author's real name as a trade paperback and ebook by Phoenix Pick in 2013. It takes place in the 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.

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.

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.


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