Rhodanthe and Dosikles

Theodore Prodromos wrote a far more thrilling romance than the author of Drosilla and Charikles. Heavily indebted to Helidorus, Prodromos begins the narrative in media res while borrowing all of the typical plot conventions of the ancient romances of his predecessors. So, we have the assumed death of the heroine, miracles, oracles, shipwrecks, piracy, close friendships with fellow unfortunate slaves of high status, lustful and envious obstacles, constant invocations of the gods (especially Hermes, in this case), and some ekphrasis. As a performance piece, the narrative's often lengthy speeches and rhetorical exercises must have worked better when performed at the Komnenian court. 

Nevertheless, this romance manages to be more entertaining than that of Drosilla while featuring a fuller plot and interesting escapades. There's even more awesome battle scenes, such as the naval scene pitting the troops of the bandit/emperor Mistylos against Bryaxes. I had no idea divers armed with hammers were used to sink enemy ships. The novel's attempts at placing the two lovers at the heart of an imperial conflict does add some dramatic stature to their adventures, although lacking in the historical grandeur of some of the conflicts in the ancient romances (Egyptians, Meroe, the mighty Persian Empire). Indeed, is Pissa supposed to be Pisa, Italy? The epic scope given to the military scene and the lengthy speech of Bryaxes before the battle does lend a serious political air to the romance, but Rhodanthe and Dosikles play no role in the battle. 

Unfortunately, Prodromos, perhaps in the interest of simplifying the story and condensing characters, cannot tell a tale as long or as engaging as Heliodoros. Moreover, our heroes, Rhodante and Dosikles, play no role in the epic aforementioned battle. Dosikles has a few moments where his logic and eloquence impress, but he is not as heroic or compelling a character as Theagenes. However, as a Byzantine 12th century revival of the ancient novels,  adds some interesting Biblical references and themes from a Christian writer admonishing human sacrifice and other customs of the pagan past. Luckily, the prose translation of Elizabeth Jeffrey makes it even easier to see how Prodromos modeled this work on Heliodorus, Chariton, and Achilles Tatius.