8541RB Reading for Me Level 4 Part A

Imaginative
The Girl with the Rose-red
Slippers
The ancient Egyptian tale of the girl with the rose-red slippers is said to
be the origin story of Cinderella.
A long time ago, a beautiful Greek girl was taken from her home by
pirates. She was taken across the ocean to a marketplace in the Egyptian
town of Naucratis. The pirates wanted to sell her.
Charaxos, a local trader, immediately saw the Greek beauty at the slave
stall. She was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. He felt sorry for
this girl. He decided to buy her. He took her home and lavished her with
gifts and comfort. He treated her as a daughter. He found out that her
name was Rhodopis.
One day, Rhodopis and her friends were bathing in the pool. They had
put their clothes and shoes next to the pool. A magnificent eagle circled
above them. Suddenly, the eagle was charging towards them. The girls
thought the eagle was going to attack them. Instead, the eagle grabbed
Rhodopis’s rose-red ruby slipper that was gifted to her by Charaxos. She
was relieved that they weren’t attacked, but also saddened by the loss of
her slipper. They were very precious to her.
The eagle flew back to Memphis, in search of the pharaoh, Amasis. He was
having an audience outside. The eagle dropped the slipper on Amasis’s lap.
Amasis was immediately drawn to it. He looked at the beautiful rubies. He
looked at the fine craftmanship. He thought that someone who wore such
a beautiful slipper must be the loveliest girl in Egypt.
Amasis sent his cavalry to look for the girl to whom the slipper belonged.
When the cavalry reached Naucratis, they heard about the beautiful Greek
girl from the market. They went to Charaxos’s house and asked for the
girl. Rhodopis was delighted to see her lost slipper.
The cavalry informed her that she had to go
to the pharaoh. She was very sad to leave
Charaxos. She was forever grateful to him for
everything he had done for her. Charaxos was
also sad that Rhodopis had to leave, but he
knew that royal command must be obeyed.
Rhodopis eventually married the pharaoh and
became Queen of Egypt. They lived happily ever
after.
34 Reading for Me Level 4 (Part A) 978-1-922843-63-0 R.I.C. Publications ® Prim-Ed Publishing