Every two years they run a foot race in the magnificent stadium in Aphrodesia, the city of Aphrodite. Hermias, a young Greek from the faded city of Athens has set his heart on winning this race for both the personal glory for himself and the reflected glory for his city.

The prize for winning the race is incidental, the glory matters the most, but the nubile beauty who forms part of the prize may well change his mind, and far more besides.