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One summer's day, a stranger carrying great wealth in gold comes to the settlement of Ratharryn. He dies in the old temple. The people assume that the gold is a gift from the gods. But the mysterious treasure causes great dissension, both without from tribal rivalry, and within. The three sons of Ratharryn's chief each perceive the great gift in a different way. The eldest, Lengar, the warrior, harnesses his murderous ambition to be a ruler and take great power for his tribe. Camaban, the second and an outcast from the tribe, becomes a great visionary and feared wise man, and it is his vision that will force the youngest brother, Saban, to create the great temple on the green hill where the gods will appear on earth. It is Saban who is the builder, the leader and the man of peace. It is his love for a sorceress whose powers rival those of Camaban and for Aurenna, the sun bride whose destiny is to die for the gods, that finally brings the rivalries of the brothers to a head. But it is also his skills that will build the vast temple, a place for the gods certainly but also a place that will confirm for ever the supreme power of the tribe that built it. And in the end, when the temple is complete, Saban must choose between the gods and his family.
The arrival of a mysterious stranger bearing gold ignites a volatile power struggle between three brothers, setting the stage for the construction of a monument that will define their civilization. As the tribe of Ratharryn grapples with the implications of this divine gift, the eldest brother Lengar seeks to leverage the wealth for military dominance, while the outcast Camaban pursues spiritual authority through dark visions. The youngest brother, Saban, finds himself caught between these competing ambitions and his own desire to construct a sacred temple. The narrative follows Saban's perspective as he navigates the demands of his brothers, his complex romantic entanglements, and the immense physical labor required to manifest a vision that threatens to consume his family.
This novel is characterized by its meticulous attention to the logistical realities of prehistoric life and the physical demands of ancient engineering. The narrative structure emphasizes the tension between individual agency and the crushing weight of tribal destiny, a common thread in the author's historical works. Readers often note the stark contrast between the brutal, power-hungry nature of the elder brothers and the grounded, constructive focus of the protagonist. The prose maintains a steady, deliberate pace that mirrors the slow, arduous process of building a monument of such scale. It stands as a grounded interpretation of the motivations that might have driven the creation of one of history's most enduring mysteries.
Page Count:
448
Publication Date:
1999-01-01
Publisher:
Collins
ISBN-10:
0002259702
ISBN-13:
9780002259705
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