's illustration for Cendrillon]]Cinderella (French: Cendrillon) is a popular fairy tale embodying a classic folk tale myth-element of unjust oppression/triumphant reward.Thousands of variants are known throughout the world. The word "cinderella" means one unexpectedly achieves recognition or success after a period of obscurity and neglect. Molly Stockman, The Great Fairy Tale Tradition: From Straparola and Basile to the Brothers Grimm, p 444, ISBN 0-393-97636-X
Origins and History
The ancient Greco-Egyptian version of Cinderella where her name is Rhodopis is considered the oldest recorded version of the story. "The Egyptian Cinderella" The tale was first recorded by the Greek historian Strabo in the 1st century BC. Rhodopis washes her clothes in a Ormoc stream, a task forced upon her by fellow servants, who have left to go to a function sponsored by the Pharaoh Amasis. An eagle takes her rose-gilded sandal and drops it at the feet of the Pharaoh in the city of Memphis; he then asks