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. 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. He published a commentary on apuleius metamorphoses book i 2007 and a monograph on gellius brill 2009. 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. This edition of book i explores key themes, and explains literary allusions as read more. 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. The transformations of lucius apuleius, and the rites of isis. 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. Enter a perseus citation to go to another section or work. Metamorphoses, books iviii loeb classical library, no. This book presents a thorough reexamination of apuleius platonic philosophy, encompassing both his philosophical and literary works. The apology latin and english, with commentary, trans.
Full text of apuleius the golden ass penguin classics. Lucius wants the sensations of a bird, but by pharmaceutical accident becomes an ass. Roman cultural authority in attic nights, leiden, brill 2009. This page contains details about the fiction book the golden ass metamorphoses. Lucius wakes up, afraid, but becomes aware of the goddess and the role she plays in his life. Book 1 exhibits the spontaneity and ebullience of apuleius latin as well as his ability to engage the reader with a lively story. Project muse an interpretation of apuleius metamorphoses. He was a numidian who lived under the roman empire and was from madauros now mdaourouch, algeria. The golden ass, prose narrative of the 2nd century ce by lucius apuleius, who called it metamorphoses. Characterisation in apuleius metamorphoses pierides studies in greek and latin. 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. Full search options are on the right side and top of the page. 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.
Hide browse bar your current position in the text is marked in blue. The golden ass or, the metamorphoses holds a unique place in world literature as the only complete latin novel to survive from antiquity. One major focus has been on the way in which these tales relate to an overall interpretation of the novel. The prologue establishes an audience and a speaker, who defines himself by location. Like the golden rule or golden mean, this donkey was very special. Initiations and mysteries in apuleius metamorphoses. Stephen nimis offers an intelligent and readable introduction to apuleius world and to the literary tradition which underlies apuleius metamorphoses. Initiations and mysteries in apuleius metamorphoses sarolta a. 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. An unusually diverse and original piece of prose, it is by turns funny, dramatic, touching, erotic, and exciting. At the most basic level, he changes from a man to an ass and back to a man. 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. It was undoubtedly because augustine was so well known in medieval europe that the golden ass prevailed. Next section books 1011 summary and analysis previous section books 67 summary and analysis buy study guide.
The apologia and florida of apuleius of madaura oxford. The adulterytales of apuleius, metamorphoses book 9. The golden ass books 89 summary and analysis gradesaver. He studied platonism in athens, travelled to italy.
Augustine referred to as the golden ass asinus aureusis the only ancient roman novel in latin to survive in its entirety. Feb 22, 2006 free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. 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. Read the golden ass metamorphoses by apuleius available from rakuten kobo. His vocabulary and notes offer even a high school latin student the ability to read apuleius in the original without hesitation or apprehension. Helm teubner, 2nd edition, 19 samepage vocabulary and. 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. The golden ass study guide contains a biography of apuleius. 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. The golden ass, being the metamorphoses of lucius apuleius. 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.
In the metamorphoses of apuleius, also known as the golden ass, we have the only latin novel which survives entire. The goal of this paper is to discuss the concept of initiation ritual in relation to apuleius. An online book about this author is available, as is a wikipedia article apuleius. Aspects of apuleius golden ass volume iii 2012 leiden. The golden ass books 1011 summary and analysis gradesaver. In the novel, a young man named lucius tells how he accidentally turns into a donkey and then describes how he.
The more successful ones were highly paid, achieved fame well beyond their native cities, and attracted large numbers of followers. 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. His curiosity about magic gets him changed into a donkey. At ego misera pernox et perdia 11 lanificio nervos meos contorqueo, ut intra cellulam nostram saltem lucerna luceat. 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. Occasionally i have added to the translation where adlington has omitted certain passages. To which are added, a metrical version of cupid and psyche, and mrs. At the end of the novel, he is revealed to be from madaurus, the hometown of apuleius himself. 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. 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. He was a poet, philosopher, and rhetorician from whom numerous works survive some of doubtful authenticity. Seelinger westminster college in the course of apuleius metamorphoses, lucius undergoes several physical and spiritual transformations. This is the first volume dedicated to the topic of characterisation in apuleius metamorphoses, the latin novel from the second century ce.
Apuleius madaurensis metamorphoses, book iv, 127 1977, boumas boekhius in latin libraries near you. 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. Ruebel has created a most useful edition of metamorphoses book i. Ancient mystery religions the book of isis, 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 undergraduate level. 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. Metamorphoses the golden ass, volume ii, books 711 loeb classical library. Apuleius metamorphoses and jewishchristian literature. 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. 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. Top american libraries canadian libraries universal library community texts project gutenberg biodiversity heritage library childrens library. Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans.
Apuleius sicine vacuus et otiosus insinuatis manibus ambulabis mihi, nec obito consueto labore vitae nostrae prospicies et aliquid cibatui parabis. 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. See especially the discussion of the sun seen at midnight on page 303. The metamorphoses the golden ass of apuleius born c. Metamorphoses the golden ass, volume ii apuleius, j.
Metamorphoses the golden ass, vol 2, books 711 by apuleius. This remarkable phenomenon is presented, on the first level, as. Religion and narrative in the metamorphoses of apuleius. Lucius apuleius roman philosopher and scholar britannica. Summary of the metamorphoses the spectacles of apuleius. 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. Together with ulrike egelhaafgaiser, he edited aspects of apuleius golden ass. A seriocomic interpretation of apuleius, metamorphoses 11. In crisis and conversion in apuleius metamorphoses nancy shumate takes a new and profitable approach.
Apuleius, metamorphoses the golden ass, volume i loeb. Quanto me felicior daphne vicina, quae mero et prandio matutino saucia cum. This book is the 751st greatest fiction book of all time as determined by. Metamorphoses the golden ass, volume ii, books 711 loeb classical library no 453 by apuleius abebooks. The novel opens as lucius arrives in thessaly where he immediately. 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. Lucius apuleius, platonic philosopher, rhetorician, and author remembered for the golden ass, a prose narrative that proved influential long after his death. The name must already have been current in augustines day and, rightly or wrongly, attributed to apuleius despite metamorphoses in the manuscripts. The nexus of adulterytales in book 9 of apuleius metamorphoses has been the subject of considerable scholarly investigation. The golden asseby lucius apuleius africanustranslated bywilliam adlingtonthe metamorphoses of apuleius which st.
Through a variety of approaches, including religious studies ancient mystery cult, textual criticism, literary. The work, called metamorphoses by its author, narrates the adventures of a young man changed by magic into an ass. 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. Introduction foreword, book one and apuleius metamorphoses, by stephen nimis latin text based on r. Characterisation in apuleius metamorphoses cambridge scholars. With an international team of apuleian scholars, he prepares a new commentary on the isis book. The hero, lucius, eager to experience the sensations of a bird, resorts to.
A commentary beitrage zur klassischen philologie 54, meisenheim am glan 1975. Full text of apuleius the golden ass penguin classics see other formats. I wasnt particularly happy with the ending, in fact i skimmed and skipped around at that point. Apuleius was born in madauros, a colonia in numidia on the north african coast bordering gaetulia, and he described himself as halfnumidian halfgaetulian.
In the metamorphoses of apuleiusthe golden ass, we have the only latin novel which survives entire. The golden ass study guide contains a biography of apuleius, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. Apuleius metamorphoses, our only complete latin novel, tells the story of lucius, a young man turned into a donkey. The metamorphosis, also known as the golden ass, is one of the very few novels of the ancient world that survived to our days. 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. However, as the novel is partly allegorical, luciuss journey as an ass teaches him valuable lessons and brings him to religious enlightenment. A great tool to introduce this fascinating work to students who otherwise would have little or no experience of silver latin.