# Plays — Character guide

> Key figures in Plays by Roswitha of Gandersheim.

- [Unknown](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/plays_se/characters/unknown_narrator.md): The narrator or focal character, heavily referenced via pronouns throughout the plays.
- [Gallicanus](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/plays_se/characters/gallicanus.md): A Roman general and later Christian convert, central to the first play.
- [Paphnutius](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/plays_se/characters/paphnutius.md): A hermit who converts the courtesan Thais and later becomes a bishop.
- [Thais](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/plays_se/characters/thais.md): A beautiful courtesan who repents and becomes a nun under Paphnutius's guidance.
- [Sapientia](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/plays_se/characters/sapientia.md): A Christian mother whose daughters Faith, Hope, and Charity are martyred.
- [Callimachus](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/plays_se/characters/callimachus.md): A young man who loves Drusiana and later converts to Christianity.
- [Drusiana](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/plays_se/characters/drusiana.md): A devout Christian woman who dies and is resurrected by the Apostle John.
- [Abraham](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/plays_se/characters/abraham.md): A hermit who rescues his niece Mary from a life of sin.
- [Mary](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/plays_se/characters/mary.md): Abraham's niece who becomes a prostitute but later repents.
- [Dulcitius](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/plays_se/characters/dulcitius.md): A Roman governor who persecutes Christian virgins and is humiliated.
- [Irena](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/plays_se/characters/irena.md): One of the three Christian sisters martyred under Diocletian.
- [Sisinnius](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/plays_se/characters/sisinnius.md): A Roman official who tortures and executes Christian martyrs.
- [John](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/plays_se/characters/john_apostle.md): The Apostle John who raises Drusiana and Callimachus from the dead.
- [Ephrem](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/plays_se/characters/ephrem.md): A monk who assists Abraham in rescuing Mary.
- [Antiochus](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/plays_se/characters/antiochus.md): A Roman emperor who persecutes Sapientia and her daughters.
- [Hadrian](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/plays_se/characters/hadrian.md): A Roman emperor involved in the persecution of Christians.
- [Constantine](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/plays_se/characters/constantine.md): Roman emperor who converts to Christianity and supports Gallicanus.
- [Julian the Apostate](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/plays_se/characters/julian.md): Roman emperor who persecutes Christians and orders Gallicanus's death.
- [Agape](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/plays_se/characters/agape.md): One of the three Christian sisters martyred with Chionia and Irena.
- [Chionia](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/plays_se/characters/chionia.md): One of the three Christian sisters martyred under Diocletian.
- [Diocletian](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/plays_se/characters/diocletian.md): Roman emperor who orders the persecution of Christian virgins.
- [Andronicus](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/plays_se/characters/andronicus.md): Husband of Drusiana who becomes a Christian after her resurrection.
- [Fortunatus](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/plays_se/characters/fortunatus.md): A servant of Callimachus who dies and is resurrected.
- [Antony](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/plays_se/characters/antony.md): An elderly hermit who advises Paphnutius.
- [Terentianus](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/plays_se/characters/terentianus.md): A Roman officer who executes Gallicanus and later converts.
- [Paul](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/plays_se/characters/paul.md): A Christian martyr executed alongside John under Julian.
- [Roswitha](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/plays_se/characters/roswitha.md): The author and narrator who appears in prefaces and notes.
- [Gerberg](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/plays_se/characters/gerberg.md): The abbess to whom Roswitha dedicates her work.
- [Artemia](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/plays_se/characters/artemia.md): Daughter of Diocletian who converts to Christianity.
- [Helena](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/plays_se/characters/helena.md): Mother of Constantine, mentioned in the Gallicanus play.
- [Laurence Humfrey](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/plays_se/characters/laurence_humfrey.md): A historical figure mentioned in the translator's note.
- [Conrad Celtes](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/plays_se/characters/conrad_celtes.md): A humanist who rediscovered Roswitha's works.
- [Charles Magnin](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/plays_se/characters/charles_magnin.md): A French scholar who wrote about Roswitha.
- [Terence](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/plays_se/characters/terence.md): A Roman playwright mentioned in the preface.
- [Miss Ellen Terry](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/plays_se/characters/miss_ellen_terry.md): A modern actress mentioned in the acting note.

HTML index: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/plays_se/characters