“Using a variety of media, from shortfilms to illustrated stories and 3D artwork, I am trying to rebuild the period of Greco-Persian wars in all its beauty, magnificence and horror…”
- Martin Klekner
director of Heroes of Bronze
“Heroes of Bronze” is a multimedia project set in ancient Greece. During the Ionian Revolt and the first Greco-Persian War (5th century BC), the complicated relationship between Greeks and Persians reaches a breaking point. People from both sides are dragged into a conflict which will put in danger what they care about the most: honour, family, and their way of life.
The tragic events of the Greco-Persian Wars are the settings for a short movie, a series of novels and, eventually, a TV series.
“The Memory” Shortfilm
Heroes of Bronze: The Memory is a “proof-of-concept” short film set in ancient Greece, showcasing the magnificence, beauty and horror of the time set between two famous battles of ancient history – Marathon (490 BC) and Platea (479 BC).
It serves as an intro to a bigger animated project, which I am currently pre-producing.
Short stories
The road to achieving my dream goal—a fully-fledged animated TV series—will be long and difficult. However, that doesn’t mean I need to stop everything and simply wait for someone to fund it. Over the next few months and years, I’ll be writing a story set in the Heroes of Bronze world. This story will serve as the foundation for all the images and videos I release. The Memory short film offers a brief glimpse into this larger narrative.
I plan to release parts of the narrative as a series of short stories, and possibly as a book, accompanied by illustrations—first digitally, and later in physical form.
The year is 508 BC. On behalf of his sick father, an up-and-coming Athenian trierarch sails the Aegean Sea to gain much-needed experience and to represent his family in their many trade dealings. His name is Nikephoros, and at 28 years of age, he is eager to make a name for himself in Ionia. Soon, however, he finds the world of the Aegean islands to be more complicated than he ever imagined...
The year is 513 BC, just months before the Persian king's expedition to the lands of Scythia.
After their father’s death, two young brothers strive to restore their family’s standing at court, navigating the treacherous waters of Persian royal intrigue. First, however, they must resolve the differences that divide them...
The year is 510 BC, three years after the Persian king's campaign into the lands of Scythia. The coast of Thrace, near the Bosporus strait, is gripped by chaos. The Persian incursion has left old rivalries between the tribes simmering, ready to ignite at any moment. Amidst this turmoil, a Thracian boy dreams his dream of glory...
The year is 510 BC. Two years ago, the democratic revolution in Athens shook the Greek world with its wholly novel concept. Its effects can still be felt across the entirety of Greece. The city itself is in turmoil, encroached upon on all sides by enemies. Amidst all this, Penelope, the wife of Nikephoros, tries to come to terms with her desperately isolated life on a small estate in Attica...
Beyond the borders of the Persian empire, in the wild plains of the Balkans, the Scythians roamed, fierce nomads who answered to no king. By 513 BC, Darius, the King of Kings, could tolerate them no longer. With an army of 80,000 at his command, he marched north, subduing Thrace and pressing into the heart of Scythia, determined to bring these free warriors to heel. Among the gathered host, two young men were destined to meet—an encounter that would shape the fate of nations.
More coming soon…
