The Egyptian Cinderella - A historical perspective

We all know the story of Cinderella.  Did you know that the first recorded Cinderella story was about a slave nicknamed Rhodopis – named for her rosy pink cheeks.  There are those that believe that this Cinderella story has a basis in history.  

Her back-story was first reported by the “father of history”, Herodotus, in the 5^th Century (B.C.E). 

Herodotus was the first historian to write about the past in narrative form.  He wrote nine volumes describing the people and places he encountered on his journey through the Mediterranean including a snippet on Rhodopis  (NewWorld Encyclopedia).

She was said to have been a Thracian slave (a civilization which thrived in the area now known as Bulgaria).  She was fair skinned and had blond curly hair.  Herodotus explained her in his history as “a fellow-slave of Aesop the story-writer.”  In Volume 2 of his history he discusses how some believe that one of the pyramids in Egypt was built by Rhodopis.  He explains that she was a courtesan who gained her freedom from Mytilene, who happened to be the brother of the poet Sappho. 

In other words the first Cinderella was a prostitute!  Interesting huh?  I’m sure I will not be teaching that bit of information to my children until they are a bit older and able to understand that back in ancient times beautiful slaves ended up being used as courtesans’ or prostitutes.  

If you are anything like me the exact telling from Herodotus himself is rather intriguing and I have included a link for those that want to pore through his narrative.  It is section 134-135 in Volume 2.  The History of Herodotus
 
The Roman historian Strabo recorded the first Cinderella story in the first century AD.  He tells a story of a beautiful slave – Rhodopis.  She is hated by the other slaves and made to do more than her fair share of the work (sound familiar?).  On her own time she likes to dance and one day she is seen dancing by some guy who then makes her a beautiful pair of shoes.  One day her shoes get wet and as she leaves them out to dry a falcon takes off with them.  They are found by a prince who makes all the girls try it on to see if it fits.  Guess who the shoe fits and marries the prince?  Yup, Rhodopis.  

Here is a link to Strabo’s version Rhodopis


 

My favorite version of Rhodopis is “The Egyptian Cinderella” by Shirley Climo.  My next post will include a review of her book and a discussion of the historical and cultural aspects of the Egyptian Cinderella.  Stay tuned!!










Resources
New World  Encyclopedia - Herodotus
The History of Herodotus parallel English/Greek English translation: G. C. Macaulay, (pub. Macmillan, London and NY) [1890]