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Daphnis and Chloë (Cyclopedia of Literary Characters)

At a glance:

Characters Discussed

Daphnis (DAF-nihs), found as a baby by Lamo and reared by him. Though finally discovering that he loves Chloë, Daphnis is unable to ask for her in marriage until he finds a purse of silver. He is discovered to be Philopoemen, lost son of Dionysophanes.

Chloë (KLOH-ee), found as an infant girl by Dryas in the Cave of the Nymphs, on Lesbos. She is discovered to be Agele, the daughter of Megacles.

Lamo (LA-moh), a goatherd of Lesbos and the foster father of Daphnis.

Myrtale (MIHR-tuh-lee), his wife, who hides the purple cloak and ivory dagger found with Daphnis.

Dryas (DRI-uhs), a shepherd and the foster father of Chloë.

Nape (NA-pee), his wife, who brings up Chloë.

Dorco (DOHR-koh), a fisherman who wants to marry Chloë and tries to kidnap her. He later saves Daphnis after he has been captured by pirates.

Lampis (LAM-pihs), another suitor of Chloë, who steals her.

Gnatho (NA-thoh), Astylus’ parasite, who rescues Chloë.

The Methymneans (meh-THIHM- nee-ehns), who carry off Chloë but, frightened by Pan, return her.

Lycaenium (li-SEE-nee-uhm), a woman who teaches love to Daphnis.

Megacles (MEH-gehk-leez), of Mitylene, the father of Chloë.

Dionysophanes (di-oh-nih-SO- fuh-neez), owner of Lamo and the father of Daphnis.

Astylus (as-TI-luhs), the son of Dionysophanes and the young master of Lamo.

Eudromus (yew-DROH-muhs), Astylus’ page.

Bibliography:

Barber, Giles. Daphnis and Chloë: The Markets and Metamorphoses of an Unknown Bestseller. London: The British Library, 1989. The text of the 1988 Panizzi Lectures. A fascinating study of the bibliographic history of the work and its reception by various audiences.

Longus. Daphnis and Chloë. Translated by Jack Lindsay. London: Daimon Press, 1948. Lindsay discusses in an essay the mythological background of the story, comparing Greek nature myths to Babylonian and Celtic ones, and analyzing the significance of the names contained in the narrative.

Longus. Daphnis and Chloë. Translated by George Thornley and with an introduction by J. M. Edwards. New York: Putnam, 1924. The Thornley translation is revised and augmented by J. M. Edwards, whose introduction details the various manuscript sources. There is a useful appendix on the origins of the work.

Longus. The Pastoral Loves of Daphnis and Chloë. Translated and with an introduction by George Moore. London: Heinemann, 1924. Moore’s introduction is cast as a dialogue between himself and Thomas Whittaker, in which the merits of the text and the need for a new translation are considered at length.

Longus. The Story of Daphnis and Chloë. Translated, annotated, and edited by W. D. Lowe. Cambridge, England: Deighton Bell, 1908. Perhaps the most useful edition for academic purposes, by courtesy of the elaborate annotations.

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