Gyms of Mount Olympus

Theodoros is a descendant of Herakles. His distinguished heritage has granted him a life of luxury among Athens' elite. He spends his days drinking wine and discussing philosophy as slaves tend to his every whim.   But when a cataclysmic event upends his wealth and status, Theo finds his life of luxury inverted—exiled into poverty alongside his pregnant wife, Damara. Soon, their son is born bearing the mark of one forsaken by the gods. The boy, named Nikodemos, endures a brutal childhood as the object of Theo's wrath, ignorant to his noble lineage...as well as his own true potential. And ignorant he would remain, if not for the Greek gods' penchant for meddling in mortal affairs. Behind the veil of Niko's world, a power struggle of cosmic proportions is unfolding on Mount Olympus. The Immortals dwelling there are desperate to usurp the reigning Archon Anthropos: supreme overseer of mankind. Before long, the disfigured Nikodemos finds himself caught in the midst of a plot hatched by an underdog deity. That plot centers around a bodybuilding competition between extraordinary mortals, each contestant sponsored and guided by a different member of the Greek pantheon. As the machinations of his unlikely patron unfold, Nikodemos will learn the true nature of struggle, logos, and strength. © 2026 Errol Mercer. All rights reserved. Cover photo of "The Boxer at Rest" © Dimitrii Moroz and used under Dreamstime Royalty-Free License. Cover design by Errol Mercer. "Pretzel" font by JLH Fonts used under Public Domain.  AI was not used in the writing of this tale.