Chariton of Aphrodisias

Chariton of Aphrodisias

Chariton of Aphrodisias (Greek: Χαρίτων ὁ Ἀφροδισιεύς)[ 1 ] was the author of an ancient Greek novel probably titled Callirhoe (based on the subscription in the sole surviving manuscript). However, it is regularly referred to as Chaereas and Callirhoe [ 2 ] (which more closely aligns with the title given at the head of the manuscript). Evidence of fragments of the text on papyri suggests that the novel may have been written in the mid 1st century AD, making it the oldest surviving complete ancient prose romance and the only one to make use of apparent historiographical features for background verisimilitude and structure, in conjunction with elements of Greek mythology, as Callirhoë is frequently compared to Aphrodite and Ariadne and Chaereas to numerous heroes, both implicitly and
explicitly. [ 3 ] As the fiction takes place in the past, and historical figures interact with the plot, Callirhoe may be understood as the first historical novel; it was later imitated by Xenophon of Ephesus and Heliodorus of Emesa, among others.

En

• [1] In literature, he is also known as Greek: Χαρίτων ὁ Ἀφροδισιεύς and Greek: Χαρίτων ὁ Ἀφροδίσιος.
• [2] Greek: Τῶν περὶ Χαιρέαν καὶ Καλλιρρόην in Greek.
• [3] Edmund P. Cueva (Fall 1996). "Plutarch's Ariadne in Chariton's Chaereas and Callirhoe". American Journal of Philology. 117 (3): 473–484. doi:10.1353/ajp.1996.0045.

Dating

Callirhoe

• Chariton's novel exists in only one (somewhat unreliable) manuscript, from the 13th century. It was not published until the 18th century, and remained dismissed until the twentieth. It nevertheless gives insight into the development of ancient prose fiction.

Plot outline

Historical basis

Style and influences

Notes

Further reading

See also:

• Plot outline and Historical basis
• Notes
• Further reading
• "Chariton", Encyclopædia Britannica. 5 (11th ed.). 1911.
• Synopsis of the novel
• Tufts University - Chariton, De Chaerea et Callirhoe (Greek) (ed. Rudolf Hercher) - at the Perseus Project, Hercher's edition of the Greek text.