Ottoman Empire, 1897. Against the backdrop of the systematic killing of the Greek-Christian population of Anatolia, two families flee Turkey. Eleven years later, their offspring meet in Constantinople and fall passionately in love.
Iphigenia and Miltos disclose their affair to her parents; however, a sudden and violent attack forces Miltos and his brother to catch a ship to Amisos. As misty-eyed Iphigenia bids farewell, Miltos promises to return and marry her.
As the brothers find refuge in Amisos, a dear friend of Nikolaidis arrives in Constantinople from Paris. He is Vasily Sakharov, a wealthy banker and arms dealer.
Iphigenia makes plans for the future; but, sharp-witted Miltos impresses Sakharov, who wants him to be his right-hand man in cosmopolitan Paris. Of course, Miltos is on cloud nine; nevertheless, Iphigenia protests.
Handsome Miltos lives up to Sakharov's expectations and discovers the seductive side of the glamorous Parisian metropolis, neglecting Iphigenia. In Amisos, Pavlidis decides to run for office in the 1908 elections.
Against the backdrop of violence and political unrest, Miltos' father becomes a Member of Parliament, and the Sultan's forces terrorise the defenceless villages of Pontus. Miltos, who is still in Paris, wants to take action.
Sadly, the gap deepens between Miltos and Iphigenia. Before long, Miltos wins the sympathy of the Minister of Armaments, only to find himself before a pressing dilemma as hostilities escalate back home.
Iphigenia moves to Paris to study archaeology and rekindles Miltos' dormant passion. However, war is brewing over in the Balkans, and the Turks, who continue to terrorise the Pontian-Greeks, have targeted Miltos' family.
More and more, the situation in the country deteriorates, and as Balkan War breaks out, Iphigenia finds herself contributing to the war effort. At the same time, Miltos decides to enlist in the Greek Army.
Iphigenia's significant action in Paris raises awareness. At the same time, Miltos does his part in the front line. However, imminent danger threatens their families.
In Amisos, ruthless Osman continues to threaten the Pavlidis family. Nikolaidis and Sophia, too, get a taste of Kartal's cruelty. By a twist of fate, Miltos must confront his bosom friend, Kerem.
With Miltos wounded, Iphigenia travels to Greece. Themis decides to take the law into his own hands, and Captain Ali Omeroglu is summoned from Constantinople to investigate Osman's shooting.
The utter defeat of the Ottoman Empire in the First Balkan War triggers a massive refugee wave to the coast of Pontus. At the same time, the Germans seize the opportunity to penetrate the political and military scene of Turkey.
Against the backdrop of systematic persecution and bloody Christian purges, Themis faces death. Iphigenia receives an anonymous letter urging her to summon her family to Paris. Instead, she returns to Constantinople, risking her life.
Miltos is mugged in Paris, and in Amisos, violent Osman invades the house of the Pavlidis family. In Constantinople, Onur arrests Iphigenia and incarcerates her. However, someone enlists the help of three men to kidnap her.
To find out the whereabouts of Iphigenia, Miltos confronts Kerem in Constantinople. Themis has a secret meeting with his beloved ones, and the persecuted Christians of Amisos are forced out of their homes by government decree.
Left with nothing, the uprooted Greeks of Amisos face humiliation, pain, and death. As Muslim refugees from Thrace occupy the abandoned homes in Amisos, Metropolitan Theocletus has an unexpected encounter.
The Turks continue to mock and intimidate the uprooted inhabitants of Amisos. Before long, Yorgos is left behind, and the Pavlidis brothers do everything in their power to save their father and keep the family together.
Searching desperately for his beloved Iphigenia, Miltos heads to Erzurum, only to find himself incarcerated and tortured. Before long, Kartal decides to take matters into his own hands.
To save Iphigenia, Miltos returns to Paris to enlist the help of Sakharov. The news that Austria-Hungary has declared war on Serbia spreads like wildfire, and at the same time, Germany wants to secure Turkey's alliance.
More and more, the violence escalates, and the Turks set up gallows in the central square of Amisos. Vasiliki is unable to cope with the loss of her baby, and the Turkish Army recruits Dr Nikolaidis.
On their way to Akdagmadeni, Sophia, Arin, and their daughters are ambushed by Turkish bandits. Iphigenia gives birth to her son, Miltiadis, and in Paris, Miltos embarks on a peril-laden journey to find Iphigenia.
A ray of hope begins to shine with the arrival of the Russian Army in Erzurum; however, once more, destruction and despair await the inhabitants of Amisos. In Erzurum, Ali is forced to disclose the truth about Iphigenia.
Ifigenia considers herself Ali's wife, ignoring that Miltos is alive. Vasiliki is very scared, whether the baby belongs to Themis or Mustafa who raped her. Miltos travels secretly and manages to reach his own home.
Ali falls into the trap of Valis and is killed. Miltos arrives in Erzurum, searching for Ifigenia, learns from a Greek that he is Ali's widow. Valis reveals that he knows that Ifigenia is Greek and Ali's parents are in secret Christians.
Iphigenia and Ali's parents find that Simeon has disappeared. Russian soldiers arrest Miltos. Arin and Sophia arrive at Ali's family home and Sofia is finally with Iphigenia.
Valis escapes, but Arin follows him and kills him on the street, where a crowd of Turks gathers stoning and trampling Arin to death. Lucin kills the Turk who bought her and escapes.
Iphigenia, Sophia, and Melike are captured by Murat and enter a Christian caravan from Erzurum to an unknown direction. In Amisos, Themis suggests they leave the city in a cart.
The Turks torture Theocletus and shoot indiscriminately the Greeks who have gathered in the square. Four of the prisoners dig a pit. Before long, Sophia realises that this is a mass grave.
Irini is utterly unaware that her mother and sister are among the captive Christians. Negroponte informs Miltos that the Turks burn, rape, and kill all Greeks on sight. As a result, the people of besieged Amisos make their final stand.
Holding Iphigenia's child, Chrisanthi seeks refuge in a monastery. However, the Turks are hell-bent on burning the place to the ground with everyone inside. In a dark cavern, the few survivors realise that a violent death awaits them.
Rather than suffering a disgraceful death, those trapped in the cave decide to take their own lives. Before staining the river red with their blood, Miltos and the patriots dance the Pyrrhichios, the Greek-Pontiac war dance.
