Rhodopis

Rhodopis (Greek ' Ροδωπις, translated " of rosy appearance "; Alternative names: Rhadopis, Rodope, Rhodope, Doricha, Dorija, DORICA ) is the name of a courtesan mentioned by Herodotus in Egypt for the first half of the 6th century BC BC Their legendary beauty, she already made ​​in antiquity to a myth. With her name an ancient fable is connected, the motif is reminiscent of the fairy tale of Cinderella. Written handed down by the Greek historian Strabo in the 1st century BC, it may be the oldest version of the Cinderella motif apply.

The courtesan Rhodopis in Herodotus

The Herodotus († 425 BC) testified courtesan Rhodopis was probably Thracian and first slave of Iadmon of Samos, which also includes the storyteller Aesop is said to have heard. The Samians Xanthos they brought in the reign of Amasis to Egypt, where they have Charaxos (Greek Χάραξος ), the brother of Sappho, who was there on a trading voyage ransomed. Rhodopis remained in Egypt and came by her beauty to own assets, the tenth part of it to the temple at Delphi donated in the form of iron Ochsenbratspießen.

According to Herodotus, every Greek knew the history of Rhodopis. Some of her Menkaure was awarded erroneously in Giza, here is already in his time a the legend. Your identity with Doricha, the fatal lover of Charaxos as it takes 400 years later Strabo, is uncertain. Since Rhodopis " of rosy appearance " means, although it is conceivable that it was the job title of a light-skinned courtesan, but if her real name was Doricha, can not be determined. It is more likely that two women were confused, as the ancient writer Athenaeus is assumed.

The Legend of Rhodopis in Strabo

In Strabo († AD 26 ) Rhodopis will ultimately become a mythical figure. It tells the legend in the translation of CG Groskurd ( 1833) as follows:

The Roman author Aelian ( † after 222 AD), in his "colorful history " the wondrous destiny Rhodopis also briefly again. As the king, he shall designate one of Psammetichus.

Aftermath

The motif of the lost shoe and the bride search by shoe reappears in later centuries in many folk tales. Thus, according to the Greeks and Romans as well as in Persia, China, and most recently in the fairy tale of Cinderella.

Swell

  • Herodotus, Histories, Book 2, 134-135 (English )
  • Strabo, Geography, book 17, 33 (English )
  • Aelian, Varia Historia, Book 13, 33 (English )
  • Athenaeus, Book 13, 593 f, 594 a
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