Chariton of Aphrodisias

Chariton of Aphrodisias, a pivotal figure in the invention of the Greek love novel, is dated to the Julio-Claudian era (19 BC–AD 62) through literary and epigraphic evidence. His work, influenced by Virgil's Aeneid and local cults of Aphrodite, reflects Aphrodisias' urban development under Augustus and its connections to Miletus. The study identifies Athenagoras as Chariton's employer via Aphrodisian inscriptions, reinforcing his significance as a paradigmatic author whose impact extended beyond novelistic traditions.

Tilg, S. (2010). Chariton of Aphrodisias. Chariton of Aphrodisias and the Invention of the Greek Love Novel, 24–82. https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199576944.003.0002