The Sphragis of Heliodorus, Genealogy in the Aithiopika, and Julian’s Hymn to King Helios

Abstract

This article analyses the final sentence of Heliodorosʹs Aithiopika as a sphragis - an autobiographical statement by the author. Heliodoros here stresses his descent from Helios, as one of characters in the romance, Persinna, also does. However, while genealogy (or physis) is an important element it is counterbalanced by the relativization of knowledge in the Aithiopika — nomos is king. The tension between these concepts is resolved by reading the romance in the light of Julianʹs Hymn to Helios.