Roger Pearse

I've just learned that Susan Rhoads has scanned the 19th century English translation of the first novel, the Aethiopiaca of Heliodorus, about the adventures of Theagenis and Chariclea, and has placed a revised (and thus copyright) version on her site at

www.elfinspell.com/HeliodorusMyIntro.html

In view of all the discussion about ancient novel-writing, it may be useful!

All the best,

Roger Pearse

andrewcriddle

At one time the Aethiopiaca (probably 4th century CE) was regarded as among the earliest of the ancient Greek novels.

However, papyrus and other evidence has convinced most scholars that works such as Chaereas and Callirhoe are a couple of centuries older.

Andrew Criddle

Chris Weimer

Still doesn't Satyricon count? Just because its satire doesn't mean its not a novel. (Though it wasn't Greek, if you're making that distinction...)

Roger Pearse

You tell me... Or what about the Golden Ass?

Ancient novels isn't a subject that I know well (and thank you Andrew for the correction -- most useful).

All the best,

Roger Pearse

Chris Weimer

I would confirm both of those as ancient novels. Wikipedia tells me that Golden Ass is a translation of a Greek original now lost, but I haven't heard that before. Quite possible. I don't know anything about when the Greek would have been lost, but Satyricon was written in the middle of the first century still antedating the work.

andrewcriddle

There is a surviving Greek novel/satire Lucius or the Story of the Ass with strong resemblances to Apuleius' Golden Ass although much shorter. (The Greek novel lacks any trace of the serious religious feeling in Apuleius and has more rough sexual humour.)

Both probably go back to a Greek original of c 100-150 CE.

Andrew Criddle