Year: 2005
Type: article
Abstract: The study examines references to, and practical examples of, magic in Heliodoros' Aithiopika in order to evaluate the function of magic within the moral framework of the novel. Taking the figure of Kalasiris and his taxonomy of 'Egyptian wisdom' as a starting-point, the study finds that magic plays a didactic and characterising role, evoking the Platonic categorisation of Pandemic and Heavenly Love, and enabling the reader to gauge the characters. In addition, it concludes that veiled or overt references to astrology and numerology serve to establish Charikleia in particular as the highest point on Heliodoros' moral scale.
Source: Ancient Narrative
Author: Meriel Jones
Language: English
Topic: Classical Antiquity Studies
Subfield: Anthropology
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W39024125