The Wicked Stepmother

Abstract

Abstract The story of Syntipas/the Seven Sages travelled as an international bestseller through the Near East and Europe, from the Middle Ages up to Early Modernity, and was adapted by its translators to each new context. Belonging to the genre of wisdom literature, it circulated in over thirty languages and under various titles. This article addresses processes of creative adaptation in different cultural contexts by comparing two early versions, the Book of Syntipas the Philosopher in Greek from the eleventh century and Dolopathos in Latin from the twelfth century. By way of case study, it offers an analysis of the ‘bedroom scene’ in both versions and discusses the different ways with which female agency is dealt.