This book is about Lysias, a Greek boy who refused to learn geometry, but became a doctor and had many adventures. He worked for Pyrrhus who fought against the Roman Republic and had many Pyrrhic victories. After Lysias is seduced early in his life by the mysterious, alluring Artemisia, their fates are intertwined off-and-on for the rest of their lives, interrupted by Lysias's involvement in ferocious battles alongside Pyrrhus. After many adventures, Lysias and Artemisia travelled to Egypt, to the colourful world of the Ptolemys. Historical fiction. | Rome -- History -- Republic, 510 B.C.-30 B.C -- Fiction. | Australian