The name of this character is difficult to restore because it is located in a lacuna in the surviving manuscripts of the text.
[1] When the novel was discovered by Adolf Hilgenfeld in the 19th century, he proposed the reading Ῥόδη (Rhódē) in the lacuna and thus attributed this name to the character.
[1] However, in more recent times, this reading has been questioned; the lacunar passage does not seem to give an obvious name.
[1] More recent scholars have proposed the reading κόρη (kórē) instead, which means "young woman".
[4][5][6] This initial sin is the catalyst for the novel, with Hermas subsequently receiving visions, including from Rhode, never named as such,[1] urging him to repent.