Throughout the book, Xeones recalls the struggles of life in Sparta, including being assigned as a squire to a boy by the name of Alexandros who was in the agoge, the military program all children of Sparta must complete to become Spartan Peers. After Bruxieus’ death, the two eventually happened upon the Three Corner Way, where they parted ways, Diomache headed toward Athens, and Xeones headed toward Sparta. He explains the morning the Argives attacked his city and burned it to the ground, leaving him, his cousin, and their servant Bruxieus to wander the countryside. Upon regaining consciousness, the man began his story, starting with his days in Astakos with his cousin Diomache. Xerxes ordered his surgeons to revive the man so he can tell the story of how the Spartans and Thespians held off the Persian army. The story begins with the Persian army recovering the Greek Xeones who was clinging to life. Eventually befriending Orontes, Captain of the Immortals, and the historian Gobartes, Xeones died of his injuries, and his remains were returned to his cousin Diomache by Orontes. The accounts were recorded by Xerxes’ historian, Gobartes, while Xeones himself retold his tale. He was one of three Greeks that survived the battle at the Hot Gates against the Persian army. Gates of Fire is a historically fictional description through the eyes of a man named Xeones that led him to be a squire in the battle of Thermopalye.

Gates of fire spartan