La princesa etíope que nació blanca: La mirada y la contemplación en las Etiópicas de Heliodoro

Abstract

The marvelous conception of the princess Chariclea (a white-skinned Aethiopian) is but one compound (though fundamental in Heliodoro’s romance) among many others forming a network of references in this novel to situations where ‘looking at’ and ‘gazing on’ are significant. Starting from this complex, it is possible to draw interesting conclusions concerning the philosophic theories and religious beliefs underlying the narratives, which fit perfectly the social and cultural background of Late Antiquity. It is also possible to realize some important aspects of the function of the genre in its historical frame, regarding to the public this work aims at.