Calamos Supports Greece
GreekReporter.comAncient GreeceOrigins of Athenian Democracy Explored in Graphic Novel

Origins of Athenian Democracy Explored in Graphic Novel

democracyAthens is globally recognized as the birthplace of democracy. However, little is discussed on the era preceding Athenian democracy and how that affected its inception.
An English graphic novel released in mid-September illustrates the war that led to the creation of Athenian democracy.
The illustrators and co-authors, Alecos Papadatos and Anni Di-Donna also illustrated “Logicomix.” Abraham Kawa also co-wrote this graphic novel.
The novel opens up in the early years of the 5th century B.C. and particularly before the 490 B.C. famous battle of Marathon. The novel focuses on Leander who urges the warriors alongside him to fight in the battle, detailing his past experience with democracy as well as with tyranny.
Papadatos explained the uniqueness of the book from a historical perspective to Greek newspaper Kathimerini.
“Oddly enough, none of the pop culture media have dealt with this story. Either because it is somewhat complex or because the applause is always stolen by the achievements of the 5th and 4th centuries BC. So telling it was worthwhile. It is of course about a dark period, the late 6th century BC – there is some confusion in the historical sources, but where research failed to shed light, we used our imaginations,” he is quoted as saying.
Various reviews have praised the book. Rob Bricken of io9 entitled Democracy as “the Anti-300, and one of the Best Graphic Novels of the Year.
“I’ve never read anything that so astutely, so perfectly encapsulates this paradox of human desire—the need to be free and yet to be secure—and how what should be the most obvious and noble of ideas often requires cunning, courage, and even bloodshed to accomplish. But for all that Democracy wrestles with history and politics and these weighty matters, the story is accessible, entertaining and personal, and full of gods, action, romance and more. It’s fun, it’s heartbreaking, it’s thought-provoking, and it’s tragic—and it’s absolutely one of the greatest graphic novels I expect to read all year,” he wrote.

See all the latest news from Greece and the world at Greekreporter.com. Contact our newsroom to report an update or send your story, photos and videos. Follow GR on Google News and subscribe here to our daily email!



Related Posts