A profound examination reveals how ancient power struggles shaped empires, betrayals, and legacies. A powerful and graphic text and readers will feel like 'being there', deeply researched and revisionist, casting a vivid light on emperors, followers and rivals, domestically and on a global scale in the context of the ancient world but reaching to modern times. It is a story of murder, conspiracy, all 'sins' known and indulged, bloodbaths, persecution, betrayal, betrayal, empire, state and family struggle, with all 'great' figures examined. Included are the greatest historical dramas from the Persian empire as the greatest Middle East empire and with a modern legacy in a history based on original and classical, and modern secondary sources. It is a study of the pre-Christian Classical Empire featuring huge figures - Cyrus 'the Great', the Persian 'Great Kings', Ptolemies of Egypt and modern links to Anthony and Cleopatra.