In what follows I will examine some of the parallels between ancient and modern romance novels, with particular regard to their heroines. My discussion will be informed by recent criticism of contemporary fiction. More specifically, I will refer to studies of those popular novels known generically as "Harlequins." [...] Ancient romances lend themselves to similar readings; in fact, some feminist approaches to the erotic novel apply better to ancient works than to contemporary ones.
The anachronistic nature of this project must be acknowledged at the outset. (391)