The Death of the Gods / (Christ and Antichrist, 1 of 3)

A historical novel dramatizes the clash between Pagan and Christian worldviews in the late Roman Empire, following an emperor who seeks to revive the Olympian cult, confronts inner doubt, and undertakes a fateful eastern campaign. Vivid scenes of ancient life and learned reflection alternate as the narrative examines the competing claims of sensual, creative paganism and self-renouncing Christianity. The author presents this dualism as an enduring cultural tension that resurfaces in later eras—in the revival of classical artistry and in the rise of modernizing forces—showing how spiritual and aesthetic impulses continually conflict and renew civilization.