The Immortals (43 page)

Athanatos (pl. Athanatoi):
“One Who Does Not Die” (an immortal).

Chiton:
a long tunic worn in Ancient Greece.

Hiera
:
sacred objects.

Hierophant:
head priest of a Mystery Cult, literally the “Revealer of Sacred Things.”

Kalathos
:
wool-gathering basket.

Katharsis
:
catharsis, from
katharos
, meaning “pure.” Release from strong or repressed emotions, often through experiencing tragedy in art or drama.

Kharisma
:
charisma, from
karis
, meaning “grace.” A talent conferred by the gods.

Kiste
:
a chest or box.

Kykeon
:
special potion drunk in the Eleusinian Mysteries.

Lararium
:
a shrine in Roman homes honoring the household gods or protective spirits (
lares
).

Makarites (pl. Makaritai):
“Blessed One.”

Meandros
:
a decorative element common in ancient Greece, also called the “Greek key,” named after the twisting path of the Meander River.

Mystes
(pl.
mystai
):
an initiate into a Mystery Cult.

Sex crines
:
hairstyle of six braids worn by Roman brides, denoting virginity.

Thanatos (pl. thanatoi):
“One Who Dies” (a mortal).

As an extrovert in an introvert’s profession, I’ve found myself seeking out companions since the beginning of this journey. Luckily, I’ve been blessed with more than my share of friends generous enough to travel along with me.

Helen Shaw introduced me to the Eleusinian Mysteries and generously supplied me with ideas and inspiration, not to mention invaluable moral support, editorial help, comic relief, and unconditional friendship, throughout the entire process. If you found something especially clever or funny, you can probably thank her. The indomitable Dustin Thomason not only gave reams of helpful feedback, but his introductions, encouragement, and extraordinary generosity of spirit truly made the book possible. Tegan Tigani, my partner in creativity since the third grade, never balked at reading more drafts and sharing her publishing expertise. She is the best advocate and the best friend anyone could ask for.

My heartfelt thanks to my other readers: Jaclyn Huberman, Eliot Schrefer, Emily Shooltz, Christopher Vander Mey, Chandler Williams, Chad Mills, and John Wray. Great minds and great friends—you made
The Immortals
a better book, just as you’ve made me a better person for so many years.

Dr. Michael Shaw and Dr. Anne Shaw, classicists extraordinaire, generously provided most of the Ancient Greek translations
and transliterations for the book. Any brilliance in Theo’s work is theirs; any errors or inconsistencies are my own.

My undying gratitude to my tremendous agent, Jennifer Joel at ICM, who pored over every line of the book multiple times, always leaving the pages a little shorter and a lot better than when she found them. Her unerring eye and superhuman patience never fail to astound. Thanks as well to Madeleine Osborn at ICM, who carried the book to new heights at just the right time. Without the advocacy of my editor at Orbit, Devi Pillai, this book would never have seen the light of day. She believed in
The Immortals
when no one else did, and for that I owe her a debt that I can never fully repay. To Tim Holman, Jenni Hill, Lindsey Hall, and the whole staff at Orbit and Hachette, thank you for welcoming me, and Selene, into your world with such enthusiasm.

My family, both Brodsky and Mills, gave me the foundation of love and acceptance that makes creativity possible. My parents, Lewis and Cathy Brodsky, handed me
D’Aulaires’ Book of Greek Myths
as a child, instilling a lifelong passion for mythology and storytelling, while my grandmother Tamara Rottino and her husband, Joe, provided the enthusiasm that galvanized me at the very beginning of this project. The entire Mills clan seemed to accept from the first that I would eventually get this book published; their matter-of-fact confidence made me believe it, too.

And finally to my husband, Jason Mills. My first, last, and twenty times in-between reader. The love of my life, the song in my heart. His own immense talent served as a goad, pushing me to prove myself. Every time I wanted to give up, he refused to let me. Without his tireless enthusiasm, unquestioning faith, insightful editorial comments, and knack for making a good cup of tea, I would have stopped writing after page two.

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The characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.

Copyright © 2016 by Jordanna Max Brodsky

Helen
is reproduced with permission of Curtis Brown Group Ltd, London, on behalf of the Beneficiaries of the Estate of Rex Warner. Copyright © Rex Warner 1951

Cover design by Kirk Benshoff

Cover photograph by Jaap Vliegenthart @ Lensmodern

Cover © 2016 Hachette Book Group, Inc.

All rights reserved. In accordance with the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, the scanning, uploading, and electronic sharing of any part of this book without the permission of the publisher constitute unlawful piracy and theft of the author’s intellectual property. If you would like to use material from the book (other than for review purposes), prior written permission must be obtained by contacting the publisher at [email protected]. Thank you for your support of the author’s rights.

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First ebook edition: February 2016

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ISBN 978-0-316-38587-9

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