The Egyptian Cinderella

by Shirley Cimo illustrated by Ruth Heller

Multicultural Fiction, Traditional Literature

This Egyptian version of the tale Cinderella is actually one of the world's earliest Cinderella stories.  This book is a retelling of the tale of a young girl named Rhodopis from Greece who though sold into slavery in Egypt, ends up marrying Pharaoh Amasis.  In this retelling of the story, Rhodopis is teased by the female servants because she is nothing more to them than a poor slave. They also are spiteful towards her because she is Greek and not a true Egyptian.  Rhodopis' master see her dancing one night and rewards her beautiful feet with rose-red slippers.  One day a falcon snatches one of her slippers, her prize possession.  The flacon takes the slipper to the Pharaoh and he decides the falcon was a sign from the gods that he is to marry the girl whose feet fit the slipper.  Rhodopis is the only girl in the kingdom who fits the slipper.  Pharaoh marries Rhodopis and makes her queen of the land.  I would use this story in my classroom as a comparison piece.  I would have my students read the traditional story of Cinderella and compare the story to various versions from different countries, including this particular version.