The game takes place over 4 Years (cycles of play) in the City of Athens 400 BC. 12 dice are rolled in each round of play. Players take sets of dice to position citizens. When all Citizens have been placed, players resolve the various spaces they occupy. Each Citizen brings an empowerment so that players can earn gold, defend the city, remove decay and gain culture. These empowerments are enhanced year on year. Socrates himself is a 'wild card' Citizen who is 'Immortalised' in the fourth and final year. The ultimate aim is to have the most culture and thereby win the game. —description from the publisher