Heliodorus of Emesa

Heliodorus of Emesa, from Emesa, Syria, was a Greek writer generally dated in the 3rd century of the Common Era, and is known for the ancient Greek romance or novel called the Aethiopica (the Ethiopian Story) or sometimes "Theagenes and Chariclea".

Influence of the Aethiopica

Heliodorus' novel was immensely influencial and was imitated by Byzantine Greeks and by French, Italian, and Spanish writers. The structure, events and themes of the European adventure novel of the first half of the seventeenth century -- Mme de Scudéry, Gomberville, Cervantes ( in his Persiles y Sigismunda) -- were directly modeled on Heliodorus's work and this influence continued to be felt in the eighteenth century novel (especially in those having a "tale within a tale" structure).

Related Topics:
Byzantine Greeks - Mme de Scudéry - Gomberville - Cervantes

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The 17th century French dramatist Racine claimed that Heliodorus' novel was his favorite book and when, after the author had joined the ascetic Janseanist retreat Port-Royal and the book had been repeatedly taken away from him, Racine is reported to have finally said that the loss of the book no longer mattered, as he had already memorized it.

Related Topics:
Racine - Port-Royal

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The early life of Clorinda in Tasso's Jerusalem Delivered (canto xii. 21 sqq.) is almost identical with that of Chariclea.

Related Topics:
Tasso - Jerusalem Delivered

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