Saronia / A Romance of Ancient Ephesus

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

26700

Title

Saronia / A Romance of Ancient Ephesus

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Set in ancient Ephesus, this romance follows Saronia, a Sidonian slave with a mysterious spirit, caught between the devotion of her Roman mistress, the hatred of her daughter, and the forbidden love of the renowned artist Chios. Blending pagan mysticism with the rising tide of Christianity, the novel explores themes of fate, slavery, and spiritual awakening against the backdrop of the Temple of Diana's eventual desecration.

Summary up to 500 words

Richard Short's *Saronia: A Romance of Ancient Ephesus* transports readers to the opulent yet perilous city of Ephesus in the first century, a place where ancient pagan traditions clash with the rising tide of Christianity. The narrative centers on Saronia, a slave of Sidonian origin brought to the home of the wealthy Roman lady Venusta. Despite her servile status, Saronia possesses an intense, untamable spirit and a profound sadness that alienates her mistress's daughter, Nika, who suspects her of illicit affairs. The plot thickens with the arrival of Chios, a celebrated Greek artist and Saronia's secret lover. Their relationship is fraught with danger as Chios faces persecution for his association with the new Christian faith and his painting of Saronia as a High Priestess of Diana. The story weaves through the city's vibrant markets, sacred temples, and shadowy groves, introducing supernatural elements and prophecies regarding Saronia's destiny. As political tensions rise between pagans and Christians, a traitor incites a mob to attack Chios, leading to his tragic death. Saronia is subsequently claimed by a Roman official, Lucius, who acts as a father figure. The novel culminates in a poignant departure by sea, where Saronia, haunted by visions of her lost love and a prophesied spiritual transcendence, chooses death over a life without Chios. Through lyrical prose and atmospheric descriptions of ancient architecture and mythology, Short crafts a tale of tragic romance and the inevitable clash between old gods and new faiths. The novel explores themes of fate, slavery, and the power of love, ultimately depicting Saronia's spirit ascending to a higher existence as the ship sails away from the doomed city.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

Download URL

https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/26700.epub.noimages

Local file path

data/epubs/pg26700.epub

Download EPUB

Downloaded at

2026-07-05 02:27 UTC

Categories

• Classics
• Fiction