Since I don't have much else going on right now to write here about, I've decided to write about the books I've read, films I've seen or games I've played after I'm done with them. I like the idea of doing it because I feel like it's a good way to think about the media I engage with in a more critical manner. Though I'm not sure if I will do this for every book, film or game I'm through.

Anyway, let's talk about Kallirhoe

Kallirhoe, The Book

Kallirhoe by Khariton (or Callirhoe and Chariton respectively) is an ancient Greek novel. It's one of the earliest novels, possibly the oldest, and it may be the earliest example of historical fiction. I picked it up, as I often do, because the cover caught my eye. Always judge a book by its cover, but that's a topic for another time.

Starting off with the book -the object, not the content- itself, I've got the translation by Melisa Selin Atmaca, published by Pinhan in 2023 (ISBN : 978-625-8393-38-5). It comes with this beautiful teal faux-leather soft cover with a nice minimalist design. The book is laid out with the Greek text on the even numbered pages, and the Turkish translation on the odd numbered ones. Since I can't read Greek, much less what's presumably ancient Greek, I've almost only focused on the Turkish side. However, it was fun to try and find the names and see them how they'd originally be spelt.

The Turkish translation was great, though I can't comment on its accuracy due to the aforementioned issue of not knowing Greek, it felt very natural and consistent, which can't be said about all translations.

Kallirhoe, The Story

Kallirhoe is a romance-adventure novel about the love between the titular woman, Kallirhoe and Kharieas, a soldier. Kallirhoe is a woman of goddess like beauty and a noble while Kharieas is a commoner, but you'll find no story of a forbidden love. Unlike most modern romances the protagonists meet, fall in love and get married almost immediately, but their honeymoon is cut short when due to a misunderstanding and a terrible act of violence -I will not spoil the book even if it's more than a thousand years old because it's a story worth reading for yourself- Kallirhoe ends up at distant lands, which sends Kharieas on an adventure to finally reunite with his wife.

Most of the book can be read as two stories, the tragedy of Kallirhoe and the adventure of Kharieas, as the bulk of the it takes place while they're separated and trying to get back to one another.

In the story, Kallirhoe unfortunately has to navigate the ancient world as a woman, and an unnaturally beautiful one at that. Her story is one of slavery, intricate politics, intrigue and drama. Often, she has to navigate her circumstances carefully, using her wit to overcome adversity and to survive. In contrast Kharieas is the embodiment of the idea of a "soldier", he often chooses to solve his problems with his blade. I would say he lives and dies by it, but in fact Kharieas seems to prefer to go out on his on terms as he tries to commit suicide an absurd amount of times. Thankfully all of these attempts are thwarted, mostly by his close friend Polykharmos who is arguably the real hero of the story by managing to keep Kharieas alive, and by having the patience of a saint to put up with Kharieas' dramatics.

Oh the drama, so much drama! In fact, there's so much of it that it'd make the writers of Turkish or Hispanic soap opera writers blush. It's also often very over the top, to a point where it's enough to make the modern reader laugh instead of sympathize. One part in particular stood out to me so much that while I was reading it during a camping trip with friends, I had to stop, laugh and tell about it to the others. Beware, spoilers ahead. Although it's not a vital part of the story by any means, skip the next paragraph if you wish to read no spoilers.

In a scene in which Kharieas is about to set out to the sea in search of Kallirhoe, Kharieas' sick, elderly father is brought before him. The father laments "Oh son! Why are you leaving this man at death's door? Stay for a few more days so I can die in your arms, then you can bury me and go!", the mother then drops to her knees and holds on to Kharieas' legs, crying "Oh son please! Do not leave me alone here, let me come with you and I promise I won't be a burden to you. If I am, then throw me to the sea which you sail!", she then rips off her dress and says "Respect these [breasts] and pity me, for I have extended them to you once when you cried". Kharieas is undecided between setting off and staying with his family, and rather than to decide he prefers death so he throws himself to the sea instead. This ultimately turns out to be a decision not killing yourself over as Kharieas' family is very much alive once he returns at the end of the story. There's just something about the way ancient literature sometimes writes about events that are, once you think about it, tragic in language so over the top it loops back to being funny.

When most "firsts" of media are considered, it's hard to blame anyone for regarding them as mere "curiosities". The first film, while revolutionary, is literally just people moving around in a garden and it's hard to believe anyone is excited to play Spacewar! after a long day at work. Art, much like science, rises on the shoulders of giants after all.

Knowing Kallirhoe was one of the first novels -if not the first novel- it's normal to expect it to conform with the other firsts, however this is not the case. The text is not heavy by any means, the plot keeps you hooked all throughout and the conclusion of the story is satisfying. It's an exciting read all throughout much like its modern counterparts, if not more so. Where there are references to other ancient works (or anything else the modern reader may have a harder time understanding the significance), there are footnotes to explain and so, it's hard to feel lost at any time.

Kallirhoe, The Ancient

Given the time period it was written in, and the geography in which it was created, Kallirhoe offers a fascinating insight into the ancient Greek life. Though much of it is likely exaggerated, it still tells about the structure of the society that it belongs to, shows what was accepted and what was not. An example that immediately comes to mind is the people's reaction, and the quick forgiveness, of the aforementioned terrible act of violence. It paints a vivid contrast between our society and that of the author's.

It also tells about what these people thought of their neighbors, and adversaries. Of course, it has a healthy dose of "our blessed homeland vs their barbarous wastes" moments sprinkled in, but this is expected of literature this old. The way the Persians are portrayed, and even some neighboring Greek cities, is a sign of how much our society has changed regarding the view of outsider cultures.

It's geography is also personally interesting to me as many of the mentioned locations in the book are an easy travel away from where I live. This has made me add these places to my travel plans, and not only that but kindled an interest in me to learn the ancient language of the people who inhabited these lands long before I have. Maybe, soon enough, I will be able to read the even numbered pages of this print.

Overall, I've really enjoyed reading Kallirhoe. It's a good way to spend an afternoon, it's artful yet simple, dramatic yet funny and romantic yet adventurous . I highly recommend it to anyone who's a fan of romance or adventure novels, as well as those interested in the history and the society of Ancient Greece.