{"product_id":"xiphos-paperback","title":"Xiphos - Paperback","description":"\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cp style=\"text-align: right;\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/reportcopyrightinfringement.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eReport copyright infringement\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003eRachel Arthur\u003c\/b\u003e (Illustrator), \u003cb\u003eAlex Arthur\u003c\/b\u003e (Author)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe sword is mightier than the scroll in the Bronze Age. Half-brothers, Prince Callias and Prince Theseus, are sent by their father, King Aegeus of Athens, on a two-fold mission to King Minos' realm of Knossos. First, kill the monstrous Minotaur, who, the rumours say, feasts on Greek hostages. Second, discover the secret formulae of the mysterious new metal used to make the weapons of the marauding Sea People. Failure means certain death, not just for the naïve princes, but for known civilization. The young princes need to grow up in a hurry... Travel back in time to the late Bronze Age in this debut novel by Alex Arthur, where warfare, slavery and brutality were part of everyday life. Fans of Ken Follett and Bernard Cornwall will appreciate the meticulous research that has gone into this novel. Based on Greek Mythology and historical and archaeological fact, its heroic battles and epic quests will both educate and enthral the reader.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eAuthor Biography\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eAlex Arthur was raised on the Darling Downs, Queensland. During his youth, he spent many years cataloguing and researching Aboriginal artifacts along the Condamine River, near his family's cattle property at Chinchilla on the western Darling Downs. He graduated from University of Queensland (Gatton) as an agricultural adviser and was employed as a beef cattle husbandry officer at the Queensland Department of Primary Industries. In later years, he visited Greece, Santorini and Crete and fell in love with the ancient history of the Mediterranean. He visited many Bronze Age settlements, including Mycenae, Tiryns and Knossos. Nearing retirement age, he commenced studying at University of New England, Armidale. In 2014, he graduated with a BA majoring in archaeology, paleoanthropology and ancient history. He now lectures in ancient history at University of Third Age, Toowoomba and is continuing his research into the Bronze Age Aegean while studying for a Master of History degree.\u003c\/p\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 288\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 0.6 x 8.5 x 5.5 IN\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e September 01, 2016\u003c\/div\u003e\n            ","brand":"BooksCloud","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48261482741981,"sku":"9780994634009","price":29.08,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0811\/9867\/8237\/files\/7PwosvmcT9780994634009.webp?v=1785076865","url":"https:\/\/handfulofbooks.com\/products\/xiphos-paperback","provider":"Handful of Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}