Hermocrates Allegory
The character of Hermocrates is allegorical of a real historical character of the same name. He was indeed a general from Syracuse and he did indeed have a very attractive daughter (although not supernaturally so) who married Dionysius of Syracuse. The real Dionysius was a tyrant, and actually presided over Syracuse and not Miletus, but the life of Hermocrates, and his being revered as a hero of the wars, is allegorical in this novel.
Hermocrates' Daughter Allegory
The daughter of the real Hermocrates was attacked by soldiers, and died as a result of injuries caused by this attack. The story of Callirhoe appearing to be dead when kicked by Chaereas is allegorical of this and was only altered by Chariton so that he could weave the romance and mythology into the novel. In his work, Callirhoe requests and expects that her son will be raised in Miletus by Dionysius, and will then return to her in Syracuse. This is an allegory of an event that occurred in history; Dionysius I was succeeded by his son, Dionysius II, as the ruler of Syracuse, giving rise to the idea of his returning to Syracuse after growing up.
Chabrias Allegory
Chaereas is not a figure who existed in history, but he is thought to be allegorical of an Athenian general named Chabrias, who fought with the Egyptian rebels in a revolt against Persia in 360 B.C. Chabrias was known to be an admired soldier who was opposed to the expansion of the Persian empire.This is a viewpoint clearly shared by the fictional Chaereas, strengthening the allegorical feel of his character.
Aphrodite Motif
The main theme of the novel is love, and the character of the Greek goddess of love, Aphrodite, is a constant motif. She is mentioned in both passing reference and in person. The beauty of Callirhoe is compared to Aphrodite herself, implying that she has another-worldly air about her that transcends even the most extreme beauty of an earthly female. Her character also guides the narrative, and just as she was at the beginning of the novel she is also spoken of at the end, when Callirhoe invokes her as thanks for guiding her romance.
Persian Threat Motif
The other key theme of the novel is war, and the particular dislike of the Persians and their goal of expanding their empire is one of the motifs that appears constantly. There is not just animosity and warmongering between the Greeks and the Persians; there is also war between the Egyptian rebels and the Persians, as seen when Chaereas, a Greek, fights alongside the Egyptian rebels against Persia. The King of Persia is also spoken of in the narrative in a negative way and the Empire is clearly seen as the region's predominant threat throughout the novel.
