The Rise and Fall of AthensBy: Plutarch Nine Greek biographies illustrate the rise and fall of Athens, from the legendary days of Theseus, the city's founder, through Solon, Themistocles, Aristides, Cimon, Pericles, Nicias, and Alcibiades, to the razing of its walls by Lysander. For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of