Dr. Yanxiao He, Shuimu Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Tsinghua University
A Princeton Classics Lunch Talk. In-person attendance at 161 East Pyne.
Abstract
“This talk re-examines Heliodorus’ novel Aethiopica in light of Herodian’s portrayal of the 3rd-century Roman emperor Elagabalus by focusing on relevant performance imagery in both works. I will argue that Heliodorus responds to the negative image of Elagabalus prevalent from the 3rd century CE onward by crafting the character of Charicleia in the novel. As I highlight in the first section, Herodian’s writing bears traces of the initial steps toward creating the trans-gender image of Elagabalus. It suggests that Elagabalus’ reliance on Roman entertainment culture, including pantomime, to propagate the Emesan sun cult in Herodian’s portrayal contributed significantly to his later trans-gender image encapsulated in the 4th-century Latin text Historia Augusta. The second section will demonstrate the trans-media character of Charicleia as it is related to pantomime dance in Heliodorus’ novel. By focusing on episodes that recall accounts of Elagabalus (such as the initial shipwreck scene with strong theatrical imagery and Elagabalus’ sacrifice involving wine and blood anchored in theatrical language, Charicleia wrapped in silk and Elagabalus’ fondness for silk robes, ekphrastic elements involving Andromeda/Charicleia and Venus/Elagabalus, Charicleia’s avoidance of human sacrifice and Elagabalus’ involvement in human sacrifice, and relevant Iranian references), I propose that Heliodorus implicitly suggests that Elagabalus’ introduction of Emesan sun cult to Rome aims to civilize Rome, just as Charicleia civilizes Ethiopia in the novel, where Ethiopia’s capital Meroe is best interpreted as a stand-in for Rome.”