Essays

Historiciteit en geografische realia in Charitoons Kallirhoë

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Abstract

Chariton's novel Callirhoe is the oldest in a series of five entirely preserved ancient Greek novels. Since Callirhoe has the main characteristics of what modem literary theory would call a 'historical novel', any historical approach to the novel is fundamentally determined by the historical layers that can be distinguished in the story. There is a permanent tension between fifth century BC elements, consciously introduced by the author in the historical setting, and contemporary (first century AD) influences, anachronistic and largely unconscious. In order to assess the relative importance of these elements, this article focuses on the historicity of characters and events, and on the geographic framework. The study of these topics makes clear how Chariton evokes a reality he never wanted to evoke.

How to Cite:

De Temmerman, K., (2001) “Historiciteit en geografische realia in Charitoons Kallirhoë”, Tetradio 10(1): 6, 137–158. doi: https://doi.org/10.21825/tetradio.91959