Rivers’s two main protagonists—Hadassah and Atretes—follow parallel yet very different narrative paths. What are some of the similarities? What are some differences?

Compare Hadassah’s concept of honor with Atretes’. How does she begin to win him over in the end? How would their relationship have been different if Atretes had remained wealthy and assimilated?

Rivers claims that any similarities between Rome and contemporary society were unintentional, yet those parallels are evident. What are some of those similarities?