Chariclea (Theagenes and Chariclea)

Anon (1572)

Historical Records

The STC lists a printing of An Aethiopian History around 1569 that was translated from a Greek text by Thomas Underdowne (STC (2nd ed.), 13041). This story comes from Heliodorus of Emena's history of Theagenes and Chariclea. This story of the Queen of Ethiopia is also translated from the French by James Sandford in 1567 in a supplement to his translation of a work entitled The Amorous and Tragicall Tales of Plutarch (STC (2nd ed.), 20072).

This same play was either revived or made from the same or similar sources for another lost play, entitled The Queen of Ethiopia in 1578.

In this romance, Chariclea, the daughter of King Hydaspes and Queen Persinna of Ethiopia, was born white because her mother gazed upon a painting of Andromeda while Chariclea was being conceived. This happened just after the queen was rescued by Perseus, which makes the queen fear being accused of adultery. So Persinna leaves the baby Chariclea in the care of Sisimithras, who takes the baby to Egypt and in turn leaves her in the care of a Pythian priest.

Chariclea is later taken to Delphi, and made a priestess of Artemis. When Theagenes the Thessalian comes to Delphi, the two fall in love. Theagenes runs off with Chariclea with the help of Calasiris, an Egyptian employed by Queen Persinna to find Chariclea. Theagenes and Chariclea go through a number of trials, having encounters with pirates and thieves. The plot culminates with Chariclea taken and offered as a sacrifice to the gods by her own father. But her birth is made known, and Chariclea and Theagenes are married.

Theatrical Provenance

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Probable Genre(s)

Romance.

Possible Narrative and Dramatic Sources or Analogues

An Æthiopian historie written in Greeke by Heliodorus. tran. Thomas Underdowne (London: Frances Coldock, 1569?). STC (2nd ed.), 13041.

The amorous and tragicall tales of Plutarch wherevnto is annexed the hystorie of Cariclea & Theagenes, and the sayings of the Greeke philosophers. trans. James Sandford (London: Leonard Maylard, 1567). STC (2nd ed.), 20072.

References to the Play

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Critical Commentary

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For What It's Worth

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Works Cited

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Site created and maintained by Thomas Dabbs, Aoyama Gakuin University; updated 23 December, 2012.