The Roman historian and geographer Strabo first recorded on papyrus the story of Rhodopis in first century BCE which is stated to be the earliest version of the Cinderella story. Rhodopis was born in Greece, kidnapped by pirates as a child and sold into slavery to a rich Egyptian merchant who lived on an island at the mouth of the Nile River. She was shunned and bullied by the other slaves because of her race. While washing clothes at the river bank a falcon, who represents the god Horus, plucks her red-rose slipper and drops it into the lap of the Pharaoh Amasis I. He is so enamored with the beauty of the shoe and message from the god Horus that he is determined to find its owner. When Rhodopis tries on the red rose slipper and provides the mate, the Pharaoh professes his love and marries her and makes her Queen.
The story found in Strabo's historical recordings is a tale of two people who did live in first century BCE. Rhodopis was a Greek, sold into slavery and was a courtesan to the Pharaoh, Amasis I of the 26th Egyptian dynasty who lived from 570-526 BCE. Can you imagine the excitement among the early anthropologists/explorers in finding this story with elements of a familiar fairy tale? The story of desire, love and fate burns on through the ages.
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