Queen of Ethiopia, The?
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 possible printing of An Aethiopian History in 1569, translated 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).
Chariclea, the daughter of King Hydaspes and Queen Persinna of Ethiopia, was born white because her mother gazed upon a painting of the naked Andromeda just after her rescue by Perseus while Chariclea was being conceived (an instance of the theory of Maternal impression). Fearing accusations of adultery, Persinna gives her baby daughter to the care of Sisimithras, a gymnosophist, who takes the baby to Egypt and places her in the care of Charicles, a Pythian priest. Chariclea is then taken to Delphi, and made a priestess of Artemis. Theagenes, a noble Thessalian, comes to Delphi and the two fall in love. He runs off with Chariclea with the help of Calasiris, an Egyptian who has been employed by Persinna to find Chariclea. They encounter many perils: pirates, bandits, and others. The main characters ultimately meet at Meroe at the very moment when Chariclea is about to be sacrificed to the gods by her own father. Her birth is made known, and the lovers are happily married.
Theatrical Provenance
Howard's at Bristol.
Probable Genre(s)
Romance.
Possible Narrative and Dramatic Sources or Analogues
Probably Heliodorus of Emesa, An Aethiopian History, translated by Thomas Underdowne and reprinted in 1577.
References to the Play
Stephen Gosson in 1582 lists the Aethiopian History, the probable source text for this play, as one of the books "ransackt to furnish the Play houses in London" (D6v).
Critical Commentary
<Summarise any critical commentary that may have been published by scholars. Please maintain an objective tone!>
For What It's Worth
<Enter any miscellaneous points that may be relevant, but don't fit into the above categories. This is the best place for highly conjectural thoughts.>
Works Cited
Heliodorus, of Emesa. An Aethiopian History. trans. Thomas Underdowne. London: Frauncis Coldocke, 1577. Gosson, Stephen. Plays Confuted in Five Actions. London: Thomas Gossson, 1582.
Site created and maintained by Thomas Dabbs, Aoyama Gakuin University; updated 27 November 2012.