Rhodopis
Encyclopedia
"Rhodopis" is the original ancient version of the "Cinderella
" story. First recorded in the 1st century BCE by the Greek
historian Strabo
, it is considered to be the oldest Cinderella story.
slave, works in the household of her Egyptian
master. Though kind, her elderly master spends most of his time sleeping, and is therefore unaware of her harsh treatment at the hands of his other servant girls. Because Rhodopis is both fair-complexioned
and a foreign slave, the other servants tease her and order her around.
After her master sees Rhodopis dancing skillfully by herself, he gives her a pair of rose-gilded slippers. The other servants resent this treatment and use Rhodopis more harshly than before.
One day, Pharaoh
Ahmose II invites the people of Egypt to a celebration in Memphis
. The other servants prevent Rhodopis from attending with them by giving her a long list of chores to complete.
While she is down by the river washing clothes, her slippers become wet and she places them in the sun to dry. Suddenly, the falcon Horus
swoops down, snatches one of the slippers, and flies away with it. Rhodopis stores the other slipper in her clothing.
During the celebration in Memphis, the falcon drops the slipper in the Pharaoh's lap. Realizing that it is a sign
from Horus, he decrees that all the maidens of the kingdom must try on the slipper, and that he will marry the one whose foot it fits.
The Pharaoh’s search for the owner of the slipper eventually leads him to Rhodopis’ home. Though Rhodopis hides when she sees the Pharaoh’s barge, he sees her and asks her to try the slipper. After demonstrating that it fits her, she pulls out its mate, and the Pharaoh declares that he will marry her.
Aesop
has a brief mention in this story. When she was a slave before she moved into the Egyptian household, Rhodopis had been acquainted with Aesop
, who told her many stories.
(64/63 BCE - ca. 24 CE
) first recorded the tale of the Greco-Egyptian
girl Rhodopis, considered to be the earliest variant of the Cinderella story. Another account of Rhodopis has survived in Aelian
's (175
- ca. 235
) writings, showing that the Cinderella theme remained known throughout antiquity. Perhaps the origins of the fairy-tale figure can be traced to the real-life Thracian
courtesan Rhodopis
, who lived at the time of Pharaoh Amasis (570-536 BCE) and was acquainted with the ancient story-teller Aesop
.
Rhodophis is also the wife of the epic Asam, who then died and was resurrected and was given a new wife called Rhodopa.
Cinderella
"Cinderella; or, The Little Glass Slipper" is a folk tale embodying a myth-element of unjust oppression/triumphant reward. Thousands of variants are known throughout the world. The title character is a young woman living in unfortunate circumstances that are suddenly changed to remarkable fortune...
" story. First recorded in the 1st century BCE by the Greek
Ancient Greece
Ancient Greece is a civilization belonging to a period of Greek history that lasted from the Archaic period of the 8th to 6th centuries BC to the end of antiquity. Immediately following this period was the beginning of the Early Middle Ages and the Byzantine era. Included in Ancient Greece is the...
historian Strabo
Strabo
Strabo, also written Strabon was a Greek historian, geographer and philosopher.-Life:Strabo was born to an affluent family from Amaseia in Pontus , a city which he said was situated the approximate equivalent of 75 km from the Black Sea...
, it is considered to be the oldest Cinderella story.
Plot
Rhodopis (the "rosy-cheeked"), a GreekGreeks
The Greeks, also known as the Hellenes , are a nation and ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighboring regions. They also form a significant diaspora, with Greek communities established around the world....
slave, works in the household of her Egyptian
Egyptians
Egyptians are nation an ethnic group made up of Mediterranean North Africans, the indigenous people of Egypt.Egyptian identity is closely tied to geography. The population of Egypt is concentrated in the lower Nile Valley, the small strip of cultivable land stretching from the First Cataract to...
master. Though kind, her elderly master spends most of his time sleeping, and is therefore unaware of her harsh treatment at the hands of his other servant girls. Because Rhodopis is both fair-complexioned
Complexion
Complexion refers to the natural color, texture, and appearance of the skin, especially that of the face.-History:The word "complexion" is derived from the Late Latin complexi, which initially referred in general terms to a combination of things, and later in physiological terms, to the balance of...
and a foreign slave, the other servants tease her and order her around.
After her master sees Rhodopis dancing skillfully by herself, he gives her a pair of rose-gilded slippers. The other servants resent this treatment and use Rhodopis more harshly than before.
One day, Pharaoh
Pharaoh
Pharaoh is a title used in many modern discussions of the ancient Egyptian rulers of all periods. The title originates in the term "pr-aa" which means "great house" and describes the royal palace...
Ahmose II invites the people of Egypt to a celebration in Memphis
Memphis, Egypt
Memphis was the ancient capital of Aneb-Hetch, the first nome of Lower Egypt. Its ruins are located near the town of Helwan, south of Cairo.According to legend related by Manetho, the city was founded by the pharaoh Menes around 3000 BC. Capital of Egypt during the Old Kingdom, it remained an...
. The other servants prevent Rhodopis from attending with them by giving her a long list of chores to complete.
While she is down by the river washing clothes, her slippers become wet and she places them in the sun to dry. Suddenly, the falcon Horus
Horus
Horus is one of the oldest and most significant deities in the Ancient Egyptian religion, who was worshipped from at least the late Predynastic period through to Greco-Roman times. Different forms of Horus are recorded in history and these are treated as distinct gods by Egyptologists...
swoops down, snatches one of the slippers, and flies away with it. Rhodopis stores the other slipper in her clothing.
During the celebration in Memphis, the falcon drops the slipper in the Pharaoh's lap. Realizing that it is a sign
Omen
An omen is a phenomenon that is believed to foretell the future, often signifying the advent of change...
from Horus, he decrees that all the maidens of the kingdom must try on the slipper, and that he will marry the one whose foot it fits.
The Pharaoh’s search for the owner of the slipper eventually leads him to Rhodopis’ home. Though Rhodopis hides when she sees the Pharaoh’s barge, he sees her and asks her to try the slipper. After demonstrating that it fits her, she pulls out its mate, and the Pharaoh declares that he will marry her.
Aesop
Aesop
Aesop was a Greek writer credited with a number of popular fables. Older spellings of his name have included Esop and Isope. Although his existence remains uncertain and no writings by him survive, numerous tales credited to him were gathered across the centuries and in many languages in a...
has a brief mention in this story. When she was a slave before she moved into the Egyptian household, Rhodopis had been acquainted with Aesop
Aesop
Aesop was a Greek writer credited with a number of popular fables. Older spellings of his name have included Esop and Isope. Although his existence remains uncertain and no writings by him survive, numerous tales credited to him were gathered across the centuries and in many languages in a...
, who told her many stories.
Historical context
The Greek geographer StraboStrabo
Strabo, also written Strabon was a Greek historian, geographer and philosopher.-Life:Strabo was born to an affluent family from Amaseia in Pontus , a city which he said was situated the approximate equivalent of 75 km from the Black Sea...
(64/63 BCE - ca. 24 CE
24
Year 24 was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Cethegus and Varro...
) first recorded the tale of the Greco-Egyptian
Ptolemaic Egypt
Ptolemaic Egypt began when Ptolemy I Soter invaded Egypt and declared himself Pharaoh of Egypt in 305 BC and ended with the death of queen Cleopatra VII of Egypt and the Roman conquest in 30 BC. The Ptolemaic Kingdom was a powerful Hellenistic state, extending from southern Syria in the east, to...
girl Rhodopis, considered to be the earliest variant of the Cinderella story. Another account of Rhodopis has survived in Aelian
Claudius Aelianus
Claudius Aelianus , often seen as just Aelian, born at Praeneste, was a Roman author and teacher of rhetoric who flourished under Septimius Severus and probably outlived Elagabalus, who died in 222...
's (175
175
Year 175 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Piso and Iulianus...
- ca. 235
235
Year 235 was a common year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Severus and Quintianus...
) writings, showing that the Cinderella theme remained known throughout antiquity. Perhaps the origins of the fairy-tale figure can be traced to the real-life Thracian
Thrace
Thrace is a historical and geographic area in southeast Europe. As a geographical concept, Thrace designates a region bounded by the Balkan Mountains on the north, Rhodope Mountains and the Aegean Sea on the south, and by the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara on the east...
courtesan Rhodopis
Rhodopis (hetaera)
Rhodopis was a celebrated 6th-century BCE Greek hetaera, of Thracian origin. She is one of only two hetaerae mentioned by name in Herodotus's discussion of the profession ....
, who lived at the time of Pharaoh Amasis (570-536 BCE) and was acquainted with the ancient story-teller Aesop
Aesop
Aesop was a Greek writer credited with a number of popular fables. Older spellings of his name have included Esop and Isope. Although his existence remains uncertain and no writings by him survive, numerous tales credited to him were gathered across the centuries and in many languages in a...
.
Rhodophis is also the wife of the epic Asam, who then died and was resurrected and was given a new wife called Rhodopa.
Further reading
- "The Egyptian Cinderella." Ancient Egyptian Literature. Aldokkan.
- "The Egyptian Cinderella." The Hellenic Worlds. Ancient Worlds.
- Aesop fable of Rhodopis and her rose-red slippers