The poison tasted of iron and finality. Themistocles, savior of Athens, raised the cup to his lips in a Persian palace. The man who'd outmaneuvered the greatest fleet in history now faced his final maneuver. Choosing death over dishonor.

How does a hero become his own enemy?

Decades earlier, Themistocles stood before the Athenian assembly with a vision. Build ships. Two hundred of them. His foresight saved Greece. When Xerxes arrived with a thousand ships, Themistocles was ready.

At Salamis, his genius shone. He lured the Persian fleet into the narrow straits where their numbers meant nothing. The sea ran red with Persian blood. Greece was saved. Themistocles was the hero of the age.

But pride had begun its subtle work.