The thesis comprises, in roughly equal proportions, a commentary on the first book of Heliodoros Aithiopika (a Greek novel of the third or fourth century A.D.); and prolegomena which treat issues raised by the work as a whole. A literal translation of Aithiopika I is included as an appendix. In the commentary a range of points is covered, including philological and textual points, and questions of literary interpretation, and of the historical background of the action of the novel. Some of the literary points relate to the whole corpus of extant ancient Greek novels. One particularly obscure historical point, the identity of the 'Boukoloi', is given extended consideration. The prolegomena consists of five chapters. The first is a brief survey of the textual tradition of the work. The second examines the question of its date of composition and of the identity of its author, surveying the history of this debate, and showing how the evidence of vocabulary can be used to add weight to the argument in favour of accepting the fourth century date (rather than the third century date favoured by some scholars), and the view that Heliodoros was a Christian. The third chapter disputes the current view that the use of terms for divine agencies in the text reflects a lack of a systematic theology. The fourth chapter asks whether the text bears any traces of the local cult of the author's home town of Emesa, and answers with a tentative affirmative. In the fifth chapter the author considers how his contributions to our understanding of the historical and conceptual background of the text could affect our interpretation of it as a literary work.

Episódios bélicos são convencionais na estrutura do romance grego. Por se tratar de um tema fundamental da cultura grega, a guerra permite, por um lado, que seja explorada a relação entre esse novo gênero e a tradição literária (em especial a épica e a historiografia), e, por outro lado, que se estabeleçam diversos ideais de masculinidade. Assim, nesta tese investigam-se os episódios bélicos dos romances de Cáriton de Afrodísias, de Longo e de Heliodoro tendo em vista a representação de aspectos como andreia (coragem, masculinidade), autocontrole (sophrosyne) e violência dos personagens masculinos. Sugere-se que é possível observar nessas narrativas uma valorização do controle da raiva e da violência em detrimento da habilidade marcial e do uso da força como manifestação de andreia, o que revela uma concepção de heroísmo mais afim com o contexto cultural em que eles foram produzidos. / War episodes are conventional in the structure of the Greek novel. As a fundamental aspect of the Greek culture, the war theme not only allows the authors to explore intertextual relations between this new genre and the literary tradition (especially epic poetry and historiography), but it also provides means to establish ideals of masculinity. The purpose of this thesis is therefore to investigate the war episodes in the novels of Chariton of Aphrodisias, Longus and Heliodoros, considering the representation of aspects such as andreia (bravery, masculinity), self-control (sophrosyne) and violence of the male characters. I suggest that it is possible to argue that these narratives favor the control of anger and violence over martial prowess and the use of force as a manifestation of andreia, thus revealing a conception of heroism more akin to the cultural context in which they were produced.

This thesis proposes that the ancient Greek novels theorize their readers from within themselves. The novels self-consciously promote and construct a reader who is curious, or polypragmôn, and lead this reader towards a recognition of that fact. The reader becomes aware of his or her experience of reading as a process. Drawing on Plutarch's suggestion that the best way to turn curiosity into a force for good is to turn it on oneself, this thesis puts forward the idea that the novels lead a curious reader to engage with his or her encounter with the text, to identify him or herself as curious, and in so doing come to a position of self-analysis. Attention is drawn to the experience of reading, and the lessons that can be learnt from it, by the embedding of narratives within the novels. Embedded or partial narratives can suggest alternative storylines and encourage the curious reader to pry and collaborate with the narrator. The experience of interior space maps the reader's encounter with the novel, constructing him or her as curious as s/he is encouraged to peep through gaps in doors, follow the narrator through doors, and think about his or her status as voyeur and eavesdropper. Deceptive narratives lead the reader to follow suggested storylines and to interrogate the text to try to discover the 'truth' that may lie behind the narrative. Finally, the presence of female characters incites the curious reader to find out what s/he can about them, pushing the narrative to its limit. In going through this process of interrogating the text and actively striving to find out more by reading between the lines, the reader becomes aware of reading as a process, and of his or her curiosity, thus becoming able to analyse him or herself. The novels thus promote a theory of how their readers approach them.

Episódios bélicos são convencionais na estrutura do romance grego. Por se tratar de um tema fundamental da cultura grega, a guerra permite, por um lado, que seja explorada a relação entre esse novo gênero e a tradição literária (em especial a épica e a historiografia), e, por outro lado, que se estabeleçam diversos ideais de masculinidade. Assim, nesta tese investigam-se os episódios bélicos dos romances de Cáriton de Afrodísias, de Longo e de Heliodoro tendo em vista a representação de aspectos como andreia (coragem, masculinidade), autocontrole (sophrosyne) e violência dos personagens masculinos. Sugere-se que é possível observar nessas narrativas uma valorização do controle da raiva e da violência em detrimento da habilidade marcial e do uso da força como manifestação de andreia, o que revela uma concepção de heroísmo mais afim com o contexto cultural em que eles foram produzidos. / War episodes are conventional in the structure of the Greek novel. As a fundamental aspect of the Greek culture, the war theme not only allows the authors to explore intertextual relations between this new genre and the literary tradition (especially epic poetry and historiography), but it also provides means to establish ideals of masculinity. The purpose of this thesis is therefore to investigate the war episodes in the novels of Chariton of Aphrodisias, Longus and Heliodoros, considering the representation of aspects such as andreia (bravery, masculinity), self-control (sophrosyne) and violence of the male characters. I suggest that it is possible to argue that these narratives favor the control of anger and violence over martial prowess and the use of force as a manifestation of andreia, thus revealing a conception of heroism more akin to the cultural context in which they were produced.

This thesis seeks to analyze the Homeric allusions in the Aethiopica with an inclusive definition to explore Heliodorus’ authorial motives. To approach this project, I use textual analysis to avoid arguments rooted in assumptions of the historical context of the novel, about which we know almost nothing. I explore how links to Homer’s Odyssey are visible within the structural organization of the text and the content of the text. I also explore how the content of the novel reproduces actions and compatible settings of Odyssean characters, which therefore qualifies Heliodorus’ characters in a metaliterary commentary with Homer’s archaic epic poem. The division of Odyssean actions and traits depicted in Heliodorus’ characters introduce a new addition to the heroic legacy established by Homer and distances the hero from Greek identity. I conclude that Heliodorus’ adherences to epic conventions and departures thereof inform the subtextual commentaries conveyed in the Aethiopica.

Atos de Paulo e Tecla narra as provações e extraordinários livramentos experimentados por Tecla, uma jovem e bela virgem de Icônio, após tornar-se cristã através da pregação de Paulo. Provavelmente a obra foi composta em meados do século II, o que coincide com o auge da produção dos romances gregos e do florescimento da Segunda Sofística. Embora apresente importantes pontos de contato com o romance antigo e com a literatura cristã canônica, Atos de Paulo e Tecla também se diferencia consideravelmente destes, o que o coloca claramente em um grupo à parte. O objetivo deste trabalho é apresentar uma tradução do texto grego para o português juntamente com um estudo de suas relações com o romance antigo e uma análise de seu contexto. / The Acts of Paul and Thecla narrates the trials and extraordinary deliverance experienced by Thecla, a beautiful young virgin from Iconium, after she became a Christian by Paul\'s preaching. The work was composed in the middle of the second century, simultaneously with the peak of ancient Greek novel production and the flourishing of the Second Sophistic. Despite extensive similarities between the ancient novel, the canonical Christian literature, and The Acts of Paul and Thecla, the latter differs considerably from the other two. This dissertation includes the translation of this narrative from Greek to Portuguese, a study about its correlation with the ancient novel, as well as an analysis of its historical and literary context.

Aux XVIe et XVIIe siècles, avec la lecture des œuvres d’Achille Tatius et Héliodore d’Émèse, auteurs grecs des premiers siècles de l’ère chrétienne, les auteurs espagnols redécouvrent un genre particulier qui sera qualifié tantôt de romand’aventures, tantôt de roman byzantin. Tant l’appellation de roman que la qualification de byzantin sont fautives puisqu’il s’agit en fait de récits poétiques ou en prose antérieurs à la fin du IVe siècle, c’est-à-dire antérieurs à ce qu’il est convenud’appeler historiquement l’ère byzantine. Pour notre part, nous retiendrons l’appellation de roman néo-hellénistique ou roman néo-grec espagnol – voire « roman baroque », à l’instar de Georges Molinié1 – pour qualifier le nouveau genreromanesque créé à partir de ces récits. Nous voyons dans ce genre le développement d’une littérature en adéquation avec les exigences éthiques et esthétiques de l’« utile dulci » horacien. Influencé par le contexte politico-religieux de la Contre-Réforme, le roman néo-grec espagnol ou roman baroque expose de manière plus ou moins patente le thème de la diatribe à propos du libre arbitre et de la prédestination. Le rôle joué au cœur de ces romans par la Providence et le Destin, en particulier sous leur forme emblématique, semble empreint de l’enseignement des dogmes catholiques défendus lors du Concile de Trente. Dans les quatre ouvrages du corpus (El peregrino en su patria de Lope de Vega, Los trabajos de Persiles y Sigismunda de Miguel de Cervantès, Historia de Hipólito y Aminta de Francisco de Quintana, El Criticón de Baltasar Gracián), le problème du déterminisme et celui du salut sont de nombreuses fois soulevés. Cela se produit soit dans des discussions entre les personnages, soit dans le cours même de l’intrigue par l’apparition de phénomènes de prédiction astrologique ou autre mettant en cause les notions de Fortune et de Destin. De la même façon, les personnages, par leur manière d’être et d’agir, évoquent la notion de libre arbitre soulignant ainsi l’importance des actes qu’ils accomplissent pour assurer leur salut. / In the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, thanks to the writings of Achilles Tatiusand Heliodorus of Emesa, two Greek authors who lived the first centuries of the Christian era, the Spanish writers rediscover a new particular genre. Those books are either labeled as adventure novels or Byzantine novels. Both the terms “novel” and “Byzantine” are inadequate since those books deal with storylines in prose or in verse dating back to the end of the fifth century, that is to say prior to what is commonly and historically termed as the Byzantine era. We will stick to the expressions “Spanishand Greek novel” or “Baroque novel” as taken up by Georges Molinié in order to label this new fictional genre in which we can perceive the development of a literature more in terms with the ethic and a esthetic standards of the Horacian « utile dulci ».Influenced by the political and religious frame of the Counter Reformation, the Spanish and Greek novel or « Baroque novel » exposes in an underlying way the theme of the diatribe about free will and predestination. The role played byProvidence and Fate in those novels, in particular under their emblematic form, is revealing of the Catholic dogmas defended during the Council of Trent. In the four books of the corpus (El peregrino en su patria by Lope de Vega, Los trabajos de Persiles y Sigismunda written by Miguel de Cervantes, Historia deHipólito y Aminta by Francisco de Quintana, Baltasar Gracian’s El Criticón) the issues of determinism and salvation are being raised. This occurs either during thedialogues, or in the development of the plot through the appearance of phenomena of astrological prediction or of other natures dealing with the notions of Fortune and Destiny. In the same way, the characters – through the way they act and behave –evoke the notion of free will, thus underlining the importance of the actions they accomplish in order to secure their salvation.

L’analyse du vocabulaire grec du visage dans l’ensemble des romans de Chariton, de Xénophon, de Longus, d’Héliodore et d’Achille Tatius a pour dessein de montrer l’intérêt certain, à la fois esthétique et sensoriel, porté à cette partie souveraine du corps. Quelle est donc l’importance accordée au visage du héros ou de l’héroïne ? Et de quelle manière le discours rend-il compte de son incarnation, de sa réalité organique ? Comment les visages des personnages interagissent-ils ? Parce que le visage se révèle une interface entre l’intime et le social, entre l’intériorité et l’expressivité, on peut se demander en quoi ce lieu privilégié du corps, à travers la description de l’aspect physique des personnages, caractérise leur éthos permanent ou communique au lecteur leurs émotions fugitives. Le visage s’offre aux regards et interpelle. Ses traits sont autant de signes à interpréter pour celui ou celle qui le regarde et dont il mobilise le système de reconnaissance et de représentation. Certes, la description physique des héroïnes comme celle des jeunes hommes ne se limite pas au visage. Mais, seul le visage, qui n’a rien d’incertain, d’irrégulier, de disharmonieux, est appelé à refléter les vertus des personnages mais aussi ses plus grandes souffrances. La mise en icônes de traits représentatifs des personnages s’inscrit dans la logique des procédures de description physique qui caractérise la culture romanesque. Le roman aime ainsi à représenter la beauté, en alliant aux manifestations physiques les émotions de l’âme. Les visages des héros romanesques grecs sont dévoilés dans une sorte de mosaïque à la fois anatomique et littéraire, évoquant les éléments fondamentaux qui les constituent. Ainsi, sans confondre visage et portrait, nous avons déconstruit le visage romanesque pour en montrer les diverses facettes, la palette des couleurs, les références littéraires intertextuelles et mythologiques mais aussi certains invariants, pour enfin mieux le reconstruire. Nous avons donc procédé à l’étude et à l’analyse du visage, non seulement comme entité mais en tant que visage morcelé, voire éclaté. L’étude approfondie des sens s’est attachée à souligner la passion, ses effets et les émotions du corps, entre plaisir et souffrance, entre affection et violence. Cette recherche a permis de souligner les éléments communs aux différents romanciers, mais aussi leur originalité d'écriture. L'importance accordée au visage et plus généralement au corps dans la narratologie laisse apparaître le reflet des valeurs de la société grecque de leur temps. / The analysis of Greek vocabulary about the face in Chariton, Xenophon, Longus, Heliodorus and Achilles Tatius’s novels as a whole plans to show the definite interest, both aesthetic and sensory focused on this sovereign part of the body. So what is the importance attached to the hero or heroine’s faces? And how does the discourse explain its incarnation and organical reality? The face proves to be an interface between the private and social world, between interiority and expressiveness. So we can wonder how this privileged part of the body characterizes their permanent ethos ; we can wonder how it transmits their fleeting emotions to the reader, through the description of the physical look of the characters. The face catches attention. Its features mobilize the system of recognition and representation. Indeed the physical description of heroines as well as heroes is not limited to the face. But only the face, with nothing uncertain, irregular, disharmonious, is assigned to reflect the characters’ virtues but also their greatest suffering. « La mise en icônes »of characters’ representative features is part of the procedures of physical description that characterize the culture of the novel. Thus the novel likes to represent beauty by combining physical expressions with soul feeling. The faces of Greek novelistic heroes are revealed in a kind of mosaic at once anatomical and literary, evoking the basic elements that constitute them. Thus, without mixing up face and portrait, we have deconstructed the novelistic face to show its various facets, colour palette, intertextual literary and mythological references ; but also to show some invariants to, at last, rebuild it in a better way. We have therefore conducted a thorough study and analysis of the face not only as an entity but as a fragmented even blown up face. The detailed study of senses has endeavoured to emphasize passion and its effects, and show the emotions of the body between pleasure and suffering, affection and violence. On the one hand this research has permitted to highlight the elements common to the different novelists, their original writing and the importance granted to face and more generally to body in narratology. On the other hand it has led us to analyze the reflection of the values of the Greek society of their days.

Les romans grecs et les Métamorphoses d’Apulée – même si les modalités sont différentes pour ce dernier – sont des fictions en prose qui fonctionnent autour de topoi auxquels la figure de l’Autre n’échappe pas. Bien que le monde grec soit alors radicalement différent de ce qu’il était au Ve siècle avant J.-C., période à laquelle l’identité grecque est construite par opposition à la figure du barbare, les romanciers qui prennent la plume à partir du Ier siècle avant notre ère utilisent un certain nombre de stéréotypes hérités de l’époque classique, alors mise à l’honneur par le mouvement de la Seconde Sophistique. Il s’agit d’étudier dans le détail certains éléments de la représentation de l’Autre pour déterminer qui il est, comment il se comporte, ce qui le constitue en Autre. Puis, à partir de cette esquisse, nécessairement incomplète, d’évaluer ce que cette représentation peut induire sur l’image de l’identité grecque à l’époque impériale, par le jeu de miroir que F. Hartog a décelé dans l’œuvre d’Hérodote. Une première partie est consacrée aux rapports entre l’homme et l’animal ainsi qu’à l’image de la sauvagerie, ce qui permet d’explorer les bornes romanesques de l’humanité. La seconde partie s’attache à des éléments que l’époque classique a plus particulièrement mis en avant pour distinguer les Grecs des non-Grecs : le critère de la langue, l’art de faire la guerre et le discours politique qui est tenu sur les institutions barbares. La troisième partie étudie la place des dieux et des pratiques religieuses dans la définition de l’Autre. J’espère ainsi contribuer à la compréhension du genre romanesque et des représentations culturelles de l’empire « gréco-romain ». / The Greek novels and The Metamorphoses of Apuleius, even if it is in different terms for the last, are prose fictions which are based on topoi, and the figure of the Other is one of them. Although the Greek world was radically different of what it was in the fifth century BC, time during which Greek identity is contructed as opposed to the figure of the barbaros, the authors of novels, who wrote from the first century BC onward, used some stereotypes inherited from classical period, which was celebrated by the Second Sophistic movement. The aim of this thesis is to study in detail some elements of the representation of the Other to determine who it is, how he behaves, what makes him other. Then, from this sketch, necessarily incomplete, to evaluate what this representation says about the image of Greek identity in the imperial age, according to the play of the mirror detected by F. Hartog in the text of Herodotus. The first part of the thesis is dedicated to the relationship between man and animal and to the image of savagery, in order to explore the novelistic limits of humanity. The second part concentrates on elements that classical period had particularly insisted on to promote the distinction between Greeks and non-Greeks : the linguistic criterion, the way to make war, and the politic discourse on the barbaric institutions. The third part study the place of the gods and of religious practices in the definition of the Other. I hope to contribute to the understanding of novel genre and of cultural representations of the « greco-roman- empire ».