Heliodorus Emesenus or Heliodorus of Emesa is the author of the ancient Greek novel called the Aethiopica (Αἰθιοπικά) or Theagenes and Chariclea (Θεαγένης καὶ Χαρίκλεια), which has been dated to the 220s or 370s AD.

Identification

He identifies himself at the end of his work as "a Phoenician from Emesa [modern Homs, Syria], of the line of Helios [also translated as: 'from the race of the sun' ], Theodosius' son Heliodorus" According to Tim Whitmarsh, 'from the race of the sun' "looks like a claim to hereditary priesthood," though "uncertainties" remain. According to The Cambridge History of Classical Literature, "the personal link here established between the writer and Helios has also a literary purpose, as has Calasiris' flashback narrative". The later tradition maintaining that Heliodorus had become a Christian bishop is likely fictional. Quoting Richard L. Hunter, "The Emesenes were a culturally complex group, including Arab, Phoenician and Greek elements, and, since the third century at any rate, having a connection with the Roman imperial household (the empress Julia Domna was from Emesa, as was the cult of Elagabal which inspired the emperor Heliogabalus)."