Chariclea (Theagenes and Chariclea)

Anon (1572)

Historical Records

<Much about this play can be learned from its probable sources. In Plays Confuted in Five Actions (1582), Stephen Gosson lists the Aethiopian History as one of the books "ransackt to furnish the Play houses in London" (D6v). 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 edition was reprinted in 1577 (STC (2nd ed.), 13042). This story comes from Heliodorus of Emena's history of Theagenes and Chariclea. The story of the Queen of Ethiopia is also translated from the French by James Sandford, a supplement to his translation of a work entitled The Amorous and Tragicall Tales of Plutarch (STC (2nd ed.), 20072). The story is a romance of from Heliodorus of about Chariclea, the daughter of King Hydaspes and Queen Persinna of Ethiopia, who was born white because her mother gazed upon a painting of Andromeda while Chariclea was being conceived. This happended just after she was rescued by Perseus, which causes Queen Persinna to fear being accused of adultery. So Persinna leaves the baby Chariclea in the care of Sisimithras, who takes the baby to Egypt and in trun 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 culiminates with Chariclea taken and offer 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)

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Possible Narrative and Dramatic Sources or Analogues

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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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