Heliodorus Emesenus or Heliodorus of Emesa ( Ancient Greek: Ἡλιόδωρος ὁ Ἐμεσηνός) is the author of the ancient Greek novel called the Aethiopica (Αἰθιοπικά) or Theagenes and Chariclea (Θεαγένης καὶ Χαρίκλεια), which has been dated to the 220s or 370s AD. [1]
He identifies himself at the end of his work as
a Phoenician from Emesa [modern Homs, Syria], of the line of Helios [also translated as: 'from the race of the sun' [2]], Theodosius' son Heliodorus [3]
According to Tim Whitmarsh, 'from the race of the sun' "looks like a claim to hereditary priesthood," though "uncertainties" remain. [2] According to The Cambridge History of Classical Literature, "the personal link here established between the writer and Helios has also a literary purpose, as has Calasiris' flashback narrative" [3] . The later tradition maintaining that Heliodorus had become a Christian bishop is likely fictional. [2] [a]
Quoting Richard L. Hunter,
The Emesenes were a culturally complex group, including Arab, Phoenician and Greek elements, and, since the third century at any rate, having a connection with the Roman imperial household (the empress Julia Domna was from Emesa, as was the cult of Elagabal which inspired the emperor Heliogabalus). [5]
Other ancient Greek novelists:
Heliodorus Emesenus or Heliodorus of Emesa ( Ancient Greek: Ἡλιόδωρος ὁ Ἐμεσηνός) is the author of the ancient Greek novel called the Aethiopica (Αἰθιοπικά) or Theagenes and Chariclea (Θεαγένης καὶ Χαρίκλεια), which has been dated to the 220s or 370s AD. [1]
He identifies himself at the end of his work as
a Phoenician from Emesa [modern Homs, Syria], of the line of Helios [also translated as: 'from the race of the sun' [2]], Theodosius' son Heliodorus [3]
According to Tim Whitmarsh, 'from the race of the sun' "looks like a claim to hereditary priesthood," though "uncertainties" remain. [2] According to The Cambridge History of Classical Literature, "the personal link here established between the writer and Helios has also a literary purpose, as has Calasiris' flashback narrative" [3] . The later tradition maintaining that Heliodorus had become a Christian bishop is likely fictional. [2] [a]
Quoting Richard L. Hunter,
The Emesenes were a culturally complex group, including Arab, Phoenician and Greek elements, and, since the third century at any rate, having a connection with the Roman imperial household (the empress Julia Domna was from Emesa, as was the cult of Elagabal which inspired the emperor Heliogabalus). [5]
Other ancient Greek novelists: