He was a poet, philosopher, and rhetorician from whom numerous works survive some of doubtful authenticity. An interpretation of apuleius metamorphoses ben edwin perry when macrobius 1 expresses surprise that apuleius, the professed student of plato, should have stooped to the writing of fiction, he voices thereby not only the ancient reaction toward such a performance on the part of a selfrespecting rhetor, but likewise that of the modern. Apuleius, metamorphoses the golden ass, volume i loeb. Lucius wants the sensations of a bird, but by pharmaceutical accident becomes an ass. The transformations of lucius apuleius, and the rites of isis. The apology latin and english, with commentary, trans.
Nancy shumate in her book crisis and conversion in apuleius metamorphoses 1996 deals primarily with texts written after often well after the time of apuleius. Ruebel has created a most useful edition of metamorphoses book i. Full text of apuleius the golden ass penguin classics see other formats. The adulterytales of apuleius, metamorphoses book 9. Project muse an interpretation of apuleius metamorphoses. The book of isis is one of the many classical testimonies for the concept of a supreme, universal, pantheist female deity, worshipped and revered even by the other gods. Top american libraries canadian libraries universal library community texts project gutenberg biodiversity heritage library childrens library. Helm teubner, 2nd edition, 19 samepage vocabulary and. Lucius stands trial for killing the men, whom he later discovers to have been goatskin wine sacks a trick of magic done accidentally by photis while she. To which are added, a metrical version of cupid and psyche, and mrs.
The golden ass books 89 summary and analysis gradesaver. A great tool to introduce this fascinating work to students who otherwise would have little or no experience of silver latin. Lucius apuleius roman philosopher and scholar britannica. In all probability apuleius used material from a lost metamorphoses by lucius of patrae, which is cited by some as the source for an extant greek work on a similar theme, the brief lucius, or the ass attributed to the greek rhetorician lucian. Metamorphoses the golden ass, volume ii, books 711 loeb classical library. Initiations and mysteries in apuleius metamorphoses. His curiosity about magic gets him changed into a donkey. Madaurus was the same colonia where augustine of hippo later received part of his early education, and, though located well away from the romanized coast, is today the site of some pristine roman ruins. Full search options are on the right side and top of the page. Stephen nimis offers an intelligent and readable introduction to apuleius world and to the literary tradition which underlies apuleius metamorphoses. Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of metamorphoses and what it means. Thus, for all of apuleius s remarkable ingenuity, he was very much influenced by other writers of his day and sought to allude to them many times throughout the text. In book 11 of apuleius novel metamorphoses the protagonist, lucius, transformed into an ass due to misusage of witchcraft encounters isis through a dream while sleeping at a remote beach in central greece.
An online book about this author is available, as is a wikipedia article apuleius. I wasnt particularly happy with the ending, in fact i skimmed and skipped around at that point. At the end of the novel, he is revealed to be from madaurus, the hometown of apuleius himself. This edition of book i explores key themes, and explains literary allusions as read more. Lucius apuleius, platonic philosopher, rhetorician, and author remembered for the golden ass, a prose narrative that proved influential long after his death. The golden ass, prose narrative of the 2nd century ce by lucius apuleius, who called it metamorphoses. The nexus of adulterytales in book 9 of apuleius metamorphoses has been the subject of considerable scholarly investigation. The contributions to this volume on the isis book reassess current interpretations, highlight aspects of text, language, and style, and develop new lines of approach regarding the interpretation of.
Religion and narrative in the metamorphoses of apuleius. A detailed introduction covers the prescribed text to be read in english, placing the work in its roman literary context. Summary of the metamorphoses the spectacles of apuleius. This new monograph on apuleius isis book not only brings together the striking diversity of opinions that continues to enliven the discussion about book eleven, but also sets new trends in reading the narrative in its literary, religious, archaeological and cultural context. However, as the novel is partly allegorical, luciuss journey as an ass teaches him valuable lessons and brings him to religious enlightenment. In metamorphoses, apuleius tells the story of lucius, a young man who leaves home, driven by a burning curiosity about the magic and witches he has heard are present at the margins of the empire. This book is the 751st greatest fiction book of all time as determined by. The bulk of the novel recounts his adventures as an animal, but lucius also recounts many stories he overhears, including that of cupid and psyche.
The bulk of the reader consists of 75 passages enough for a semesters worth of readings, each denoted by the book number from apuleius metamorphoses and then a letter since each passage. What they fail to mention is that the versions with the full text are merely reprints of the original latinwhich you can find for free all over the internet, and they provide zero assistance for deciphering the text. The golden ass study guide contains a biography of apuleius. Feb 22, 2006 free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg.
See especially the discussion of the sun seen at midnight on page 303. In the metamorphoses of apuleiusthe golden ass, we have the only latin novel which survives entire. Ancient mystery religions the book of isis, metamorphoses. Lucius wakes up, afraid, but becomes aware of the goddess and the role she plays in his life. This is the endorsed publication from ocr and bloomsbury for the latin alevel group 2 prescription of apuleius metamorphoses v, giving full latin text, commentary and vocabulary for sections 1124. In the novel, a young man named lucius tells how he accidentally turns into a donkey and then describes how he. The metamorphoses of apuleius has intrigued and perplexed scholars throughout the ages.
In the metamorphoses of apuleius, also known as the golden ass, we have the only latin novel which survives entire. The hero, lucius, eager to experience the sensations of a bird, resorts to. He studied platonism in athens, travelled to italy. Through a variety of approaches, including religious studies ancient mystery cult, textual criticism, literary. This new monograph on apuleius isis book not only brings together the striking diversity of opinions that continues to enliven the discussion. This book presents a thorough reexamination of apuleius platonic philosophy, encompassing both his philosophical and literary works.
Initiations and mysteries in apuleius metamorphoses sarolta a. Together with ulrike egelhaafgaiser, he edited aspects of apuleius golden ass. Hide browse bar your current position in the text is marked in blue. A seriocomic interpretation of apuleius, metamorphoses 11. Please note that, in spite of my updating, this is still an old translation.
Aspects of apuleius golden ass volume iii 2012 leiden. Seelinger westminster college in the course of apuleius metamorphoses, lucius undergoes several physical and spiritual transformations. An unusually diverse and original piece of prose, it is by turns funny, dramatic, touching, erotic, and exciting. Characterisation in apuleius metamorphoses cambridge scholars. The metamorphosis, also known as the golden ass, is one of the very few novels of the ancient world that survived to our days. Apuleius metamorphoses or the golden ass, a masterpiece of latin literature from the second century ad, still captivates modern readers with its combination of asininity and mysticism. The novel opens as lucius arrives in thessaly where he immediately. Apuleius of madauros, writing in the latter half of the second century ce in roman north africa, is best known to us today for his latin fiction, the metamorphoses aka the golden ass, about a man who turned into a donkey and back again. Enter a perseus citation to go to another section or work. It was undoubtedly because augustine was so well known in medieval europe that the golden ass prevailed. In crisis and conversion in apuleius metamorphoses nancy shumate takes a new and profitable approach. Apuleius sicine vacuus et otiosus insinuatis manibus ambulabis mihi, nec obito consueto labore vitae nostrae prospicies et aliquid cibatui parabis. The work, called metamorphoses by its author, narrates the adventures of a young man changed by magic into an ass. The subject has not been ignored in recent scholarship on individual characters in the work, but the lack of an earlier general overview of the topic reflects the general history of scholarship on the metamorphoses.
He was a numidian who lived under the roman empire and was from madauros now mdaourouch, algeria. Occasionally i have added to the translation where adlington has omitted certain passages. The prologue establishes an audience and a speaker, who defines himself by location. Metamorphoses the golden ass, volume ii, books 711 loeb classical library no 453 by apuleius abebooks. A commentary beitrage zur klassischen philologie 54, meisenheim am glan 1975. Roman cultural authority in attic nights, leiden, brill 2009. Apuleius madaurensis metamorphoses, book iv, 127 1977, boumas boekhius in latin libraries near you. With an international team of apuleian scholars, he prepares a new commentary on the isis book. At the most basic level, he changes from a man to an ass and back to a man. Each of the 11 books are selfcontained chapters of about 20 pages with a spoilery summary of whats to come at the beginning, so it was easy to dip in and out. Apuleius metamorphoses, our only complete latin novel, tells the story of lucius, a young man turned into a donkey. Quanto me felicior daphne vicina, quae mero et prandio matutino saucia cum. The goal of this paper is to discuss the concept of initiation ritual in relation to apuleius. The more successful ones were highly paid, achieved fame well beyond their native cities, and attracted large numbers of followers.
Read the golden ass metamorphoses by apuleius available from rakuten kobo. Apuleius metamorphoses or golden ass written in a highly ornate and archaizing latin probably in the 160s or so, apuleius prose novel, the metamorphoses known to saint augustine as the golden ass, tells the story of lucius, a romannamed greek youth of means and prominent family. Full text of apuleius the golden ass penguin classics. Apuleius metamorphoses and jewishchristian literature. Introduction foreword, book one and apuleius metamorphoses, by stephen nimis latin text based on r.
The metamorphoses of apuleius, which augustine of hippo referred to as the golden ass asinus aureus, is the only ancient roman novel in latin to survive in its entirety. Book 1 exhibits the spontaneity and ebullience of apuleius latin as well as his ability to engage the reader with a lively story. Characterisation in apuleius metamorphoses pierides studies in greek and latin. The metamorphoses the golden ass of apuleius born c. The name must already have been current in augustines day and, rightly or wrongly, attributed to apuleius despite metamorphoses in the manuscripts. One major focus has been on the way in which these tales relate to an overall interpretation of the novel. Metamorphoses the golden ass, volume ii apuleius, j. Apuleius was born in madauros, a colonia in numidia on the north african coast bordering gaetulia, and he described himself as halfnumidian halfgaetulian. Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans. Like the golden rule or golden mean, this donkey was very special.
This is the first volume dedicated to the topic of characterisation in apuleius metamorphoses, the latin novel from the second century ce. He published a commentary on apuleius metamorphoses book i 2007 and a monograph on gellius brill 2009. This new monograph on apuleius isis book not only brings together the striking diversity of opinions that continues to enliven the discussion about book eleven. At ego misera pernox et perdia 11 lanificio nervos meos contorqueo, ut intra cellulam nostram saltem lucerna luceat. Next section books 1011 summary and analysis previous section books 67 summary and analysis buy study guide.
Apuleius, the golden ass based upon a translation by william adlington 1566 i have updated the spelling and idiom of the text, and have added chapter numbers. Psyche, pleasantly reclining in that grassy place on a bed of dewwet grass, free of her mental perturbation, fell peacefully asleep, and when she was sufficiently refreshed by slumber, rose, feeling calm. Metamorphoses, books iviii loeb classical library, no. An annotated edition of book 1 of apuleius novel, metamorphoses, this text is suitable for a students first unadapted author, or in combination with other readings at the intermediate undergraduate level. Metamorphoses the golden ass, vol 2, books 711 by apuleius. The golden ass study guide contains a biography of apuleius, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. The apologia and florida of apuleius of madaura oxford. The golden asseby lucius apuleius africanustranslated bywilliam adlingtonthe metamorphoses of apuleius which st. A new complete downloadable english translation of the roman novel. The golden ass or, the metamorphoses holds a unique place in world literature as the only complete latin novel to survive from antiquity.
This page contains details about the fiction book the golden ass metamorphoses. An annotated edition of book 1 of apuleius novel metamorphoses, this text is suitable for a students first unadapted author, or in combination with other readings at the intermediate level. The metamorphoses of apuleius, which augustine of hippo referred to as the golden ass asinus aureus, is the only ancient roman novel in latin to survive in its entirety the protagonist of the novel is called lucius. The golden ass, being the metamorphoses of lucius apuleius. This remarkable phenomenon is presented, on the first level, as.
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