ABSTRACT
Roberto Calasso tells a story about a drought in ancient Thebes (Calasso 1994: 163–166). Food is running out, and the king sits facing a file of people giving out what food was stored, to the notables first, and then to the poor. Eventually, an orphan girl called Charila comes before him. The king pulls off his sandal and throws it in her face. Presumably she is expected to chew the leather. She goes away. Many remain hungry.
