Line #56 Music/TheRiseAndFallOfAthens


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5	[[quoteright:512:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/url_27.png]]
6	[[caption-width-right:512:''"Picture the city of UsefulNotes/{{Athens}}..."'']]
7
8	->''"The dreams that crumble and fade will always find a way..."''
9	-->--'''{{Tagline}}'''
10
11	''The Rise and Fall of Athens'' (2023) is the debut album of Xiphos featuring Matteo Brusa (Medhelan) as composer and Miklos Hoffer (H.E.R.R./Donderdag) and Troy Southgate (H.E.R.R./Seelenlicht) as vocalists. It was released on January 25th 2023.
12
13	It's a ConceptAlbum based on Plutarch's ''Literature/ParallelLives'' that illustrates the rise and fall of the titular city through the lives of nine of its most influential individuals, specifically:
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15	* [[Myth/ClassicalMythology Theseus]]
16	* Solon
17	* Themistocles
18	* Aristides
19	* Cimon
20	* UsefulNotes/{{Pericles}}
21	* Nicias
22	* Alcibiades
23	* Lysander.
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25	Think of ''"Theatre/SixTheMusical"'' or ''"XII Caesars"'', but set in [[UsefulNotes/AncientGreece Ancient]] UsefulNotes/{{Athens}}.
26	----
27	!! Tracklist:
28	# "Intro" (3:19)
29	# "Theseus" (4:10)
30	# "Solon" (5:22)
31	# "Themistocles" (9:00)
32	# "Aristides" (6:15)
33	# "Cimon" (7:25)
34	# "Pericles" (6:00)
35	# "Nicias" (8:59)
36	# "Alcibiades" (6:30)
37	# "Lysander" (9:40)
38	# "Outro" (1:30)
39	----
40	!!''The Rise and Fall of Athens'' provides examples of
41	* AdaptedOut: Several moments of these persons' lives go unmentioned.
42	* AdaptationalHeroism: Downplayed. The album highlights the heroic deeds of these figures, but chooses to either sweep their most problematic actions under the carpet or mention them briefly, to avoid making them unsympathetic to the listeners due to ValuesDissonance (ex. Ariadne's abandonment by Theseus[[note]]at least, depending on which myth you believe, since in some others Dionysus orders him to do so[[/note]], Pericles' mishandling of the money of the Delian Treasury etc).
43	* TheAlcoholic: Cimon is described as being hard-drinking.
44	* AllTakeAndNoGive:
45	** Lysander towards the Athenians.
46	-->Lyyyyysander\
47	The walls of Athens fall\
48	Make the city yours\
49	All in the Spartan cause\
50
51	** Inverted with Aristides.
52	--> At the end of his life he was a poor man\
53	whilst guarding a fortune\
54	For he had given his services freely,\
55	never asking favours in return\
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57	* BadassBoast: "Solon".
58	-->Called upon by wise men,\
59	declared wisest of them all
60	* BittersweetEnding:
61	** The album ends with the Athenian Empire fallen, never to rise again. Despite that, the work and the legacy of these people continue to live on in the hearts of many people till this day.
62	** Aristides' end. He dies a poor man, after giving his wealth to those that needed it the most, but the Athenians continued to take care of him, after everything he had done for them.
63	** We are not sure about Nicias, as he was rumored to either be killed or committing suicide. Regardless, thanks to Plutarch's writings, we still know his name and his deeds.
64	* BookEnds: Pericles' song starts and ends with the same lyrics.
65	-->Behind the safety of the city walls\
66	Outside the fields are burning in this war\
67	Once upon a long time ago\
68	In UsefulNotes/{{Greece}}
69	* TheCasanova: Cimon.
70	* DemocracyIsFlawed: Pericles is praised for building an Empire "not ruled by the few, but by the many".
71	* DownerEnding: Despite Themistocles' high victory at [[UsefulNotes/GrecoPersianWars Salamis]], he ends up exiled from Athens.
72	* TheExile:
73	** Themistocles and Aristides ended up being exiled, or to put it in Athenian terms, ostracized.
74	** Solon and Alcibiades go into auto-exile for different reasons (Solon so he won't become a tyrant, and Alcibiades to avoid death penalties for crimes he did or didn't commit).
75	* TheHedonist:
76	** Downplayed with Solon. He lives a life of luxury, but always makes sure to keep it in balance.
77	** Played straight with Alcibiades.
78	* TheHero:
79	** Theseus, the mythical founder of Athens who slaughtered the Minotaur and defeated various other bandits and criminals.
80	** Aristides is also referred as this.
81	--->So sing for Aristides\
82	The Just and Honorable one\
83	O victorious at Plattea\
84	A Hero at Marathon
85	** For his military victories, Cimon is called "the martial hero".
86	* IAmGreatSong: With the exception of "Solon", all the others can count as "He's Great" songs.
87	* KnownOnlyByTheirNickname: Pericles is never referred with his name in his song. Instead, Miklos calls him "The Olympian".
88	* LikeFatherLikeSon: Cimon grows up to become a mighty general, just like his father.
89	* LikeFatherUnlikeSon: Lysander, on the other hand, grew up to become a great man, unlike his father who is described as being pretty insignificant.
90	* LoveTriangle: Themistocles and Aristides are entangled in one for the eyes of a handsome boy.
91	* MeaningfulEcho: "The dreams that crumble and fade will always find a way". Used both in "Themistocles" and the "Outro".
92	* MoodWhiplash:
93	** Themistocles' song is shoved between Solon' and Aristides', both of which follow an epic and uplifting instrumental and a HappyEnding and BittersweetEnding respectively. Themistocles', on the other hand, is a 9-minute long ballad that ends with [[DownerEnding the titular hero exiled]].
94	** Nicias' song narrates his unsuccessful attempts to stop the imperialistic expansions of his city and secure a peace treaty with the enemy, and ends with him either assassinated or committing suicide. It came after Pericles' song, which had a triumphing refrain and described Athens at its finest.
95	* NeverMyFault: Alcibiades' attitude throughout his song. While it's true that he betrayed his hometown TWO times, he narrates the events that led him to act like this: firstly, he was accused for the affaires of the Hermae and the Mysteries of Eleusis and he quickly realised he would not be given a fair trial. Secondly, he was enamored by the Spartan Queen and had a son with her, which didn't sit well with the Spartans. Thirdly, he ran off to Asia Minor, planning a way to return to Athens as a hero. And lastly, after he returned to his city, he was accused for a fool's fault that wasn't his and was forced to flee once and for all.
96	* NonAppearingTitle: "Intro", "Solon", "Pericles", "Alcibiades" and "Outro".
97	* PlayingTheVictimCard: If you take Nicias' song into consideration, where Alcibiades is described as a deceitful untrustworthy individual, too ambitious for his own (and the people's) good, then Alcibiades' song can appear like this.
98	* ThePowerOfLove: Ariadne's love for Theseus is what makes her give him a ball of thread so he can get out of the labyrinth after he's done with the Minotaur.
99	* RagsToRiches: Both Themistocles and Lysander came from humble origins, but became great men who led their cities in victory.
100	* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: How Solon, Themistocles, Pericles and Nicias are portrayed.
101	* TheRival:
102	** Aristides to Themistocles and vice versa.
103	** Also, Alcibiades to Nicias.
104	* SelfBackingVocalist: Miklos and Troy harmonize with themselves in their respective songs.
105	* TheSmurfettePrinciple: The main cast is built by nine men and only two women have their names mentioned, albeit briefly[[note]]And let's not forget the women who played an important role in the lives of some of these men, but are not included, like Aspasia or Elpinice[[/note]]. Given that the album is set in UsefulNotes/AncientGreece, where it was believed that women should not be heard or be seen, it shouldn't come across as a surprise.
106	* TheSpartanWay:
107	** Cimon, who "bears a Spartan heart".
108	** Played straight with Lysander, a literal Spartan.

Context Music / TheRiseAndFallOfAthens