Apuleius was born in madauros, a colonia in numidia on the north african coast bordering gaetulia, and he described himself as halfnumidian halfgaetulian. Religion and narrative in the metamorphoses of apuleius. An online book about this author is available, as is a wikipedia article apuleius. Of the three 19th century english translations of apul. He was a numidian who lived under the roman empire and was from madauros now mdaourouch, algeria. Stephen nimis offers an intelligent and readable introduction to apuleius world and to the literary tradition which underlies apuleius metamorphoses. Apuleius famous novel, the metamorphoses,tells the story of a man who was magically changed into an ass, and whohad various humorous, sad, exciting, disturbing, erotic, horrificadventures before he regained his human form. Penguin classics kindle edition by ovid, denis feeney, david raeburn. Please note that, in spite of my updating, this is still an old translation. Book iii on trial, lucius transformed book iv the robbers, the tale of cupid and psyche.
Occasionally i have added to the translation where adlington has omitted certain passages. 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. He studied platonism in athens, travelled to italy, asia minor, and egypt, and was an initiate in several cults or. In a translation that is the most faithful and the most entertaining to date, ruden reveals to modern readers the vivid, farcical ingenuity of apuleius s style.
Sep 03, 2016 the golden ass the metamorphoses lucius apuleius late second century bce. Psyche was a woman born of beauty comparable only to venus herself. The apologia and florida of apuleius of madaura oxford. Apuleius story of cupid and psyche, the relationship of the human soul with divine love, is one of the great allegories of world literature. Being the metamorphoses of lucius apuleius, books 7 11. Metamorphoses the golden ass, volume ii, books 7 11 loeb classical library no. It may be, as was pointed out earlier, that 11 is right because of its importance in pythagorean philosophymathematics, but the lack of a 12th book seems unusual to me. Book 11 editions published between 1998 and 2015 in english and held by. In italy, the poem was an influence on giovanni boccaccio the story of. Metamorphoses i apuleius of madauros metamorphoses book i 1. 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. There is plenty of room, as the text with notes is only 63 pages long.
Apuleius th e golden ass apuleius th e golden ass, also known as metamorphoses, the larger narrative in which the story of cuptid and psyche is embedded, is an adaptation of a lost greek text with the title metamorphoses. In the eleventh and last book of the novel, the tone shifts, as the goddess isis. Lucius wants the sensations of a bird, but by pharmaceutical accident becomes an ass. Zimmerman presents a new edition of apuleius metamorphoses, also known as asinus aureus the golden ass, which was written in the second century ad and is the only ancient latin novel to survive in its entirety. Together with alessandro barchiesi he will author and edit a fourvolume complete commentary on apuleius novel for the italian publisher vallamondadori. See all formats and editions hide other formats and editions. The palace of the sun turns out to be made entirely of precious metals, and far superior to anything featured on mtvs cribs ovid tells us that what was most stupendously awesome, however, was the artwork on the doors. The metamorphoses of apuleius has intrigued and perplexed scholars throughout the ages. Wytse keulen currently teaches latin at the university of rostock. If one or more works are by a distinct, homonymous authors, go ahead and split the author. The golden ass the metamorphoses of apuleiuslucius. It tells the story of the hero lucius, whose curiosity and fascination for sex and magic results in his transformation into an ass.
Julia gaisser follows apuleius racy tale from antiquity through the sixteenth century, tracing its journey from roll to codex in fourthcentury rome, into the medieval library of monte cassino, into the hands of italian humanists, into print, and, finally, over the alps and into translation in spanish, french, german, and english. Liverpool university press is the uks third oldest university press, with a distinguished history of publishing exceptional research since 1899 apuleius metamorphoses or the golden ass, our only complete latin novel, tells the story of lucius, a young man turned into a donkey by magic because of his unfettered curiosity. Oct 05, 2015 this is the first volume dedicated to the topic of characterisation in apuleius metamorphoses, the latin novel from the second century ce. The golden ass, or, metamorphoses by apuleius translation from latin by e. Being the metamorphoses of lucius apuleius, books 7 11 apuleius on.
Full text of apuleius the golden ass penguin classics. Apuleius s golden ass is a unique, entertaining, and thoroughly readable latin novelthe only work of fiction in latin to have survived from antiquity. To which are added, a metrical version of cupid and psyche, and mrs. In fact, the metamorphoses is so jampacked that you dont even have to read it all the way through. Latin text, with facing translation, substantial introduction and.
The golden ass by apuleius meet your next favorite book. Ovid, metamorphoses 11 theoi classical texts library. There, vulcan, the god of fire and technology, had created a picture of the world through metalworking. Metamorphoses apuleius famous novel, the metamorphoses, tells the story of a man who was magically changed into an ass, and who had various humorous, sad, exciting, disturbing, erotic, horri. As well as being genuinely interesting and great fun to read, the metamorphoses is of. Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans. For a practicing neoplatonist, or a kin to ancient folk by heart and spirit this books conveys many trophies with plots that could easily be turned into stanzas of quotable wisdomliterature. Lucius is told the tale of the robbers and demochares. It was of great benefit to read books 16 of apuleius in the magnificent translation of j. 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. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading metamorphoses.
Fiction, classical mythology, metamorphosis, latin fiction, translations into english, translations into italian, translations into spanish, translations into french, isis egyptian deity, metamorphosis in literature, latin literature, translations into russian, mythology, classical, in literature, translations into. Latin epic poetry is composed in dactylic hexameter, and the metamorphoses is no exception. To which are added, a metrical version of cupid and psyche, and, mrs. Book ix the mill, the tale of arete and philesitherus. 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. A seriocomic interpretation of apuleius, metamorphoses 11. Luca graverini, literature and identity in the golden ass of. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. The weapon of another was a stone, which in the very air was overpowered by the true harmony of his voice and lyre, and so disabled lay before his.
The defense has been divided into the following sections. Apuleius novel for the italian publisher vallamondadori. Metamorphoses, the, works of apuleius, comprising the metamorphoses, or golden ass, the god of socrates, the florida, and his defence, or a discourse of magic. The metamorphoses the golden ass of apuleius born c. Apuleius synonyms, apuleius pronunciation, apuleius translation, english dictionary definition of apuleius. 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 mellon foundation provided support for entering this text.
In the metamorphoses of apuleius, also known as the golden ass, we have the only latin novel which survives entire. Ciconian matrons, with their raving breasts concealed in skins of forest animals, from the summit of a hill observed him there, attuning love songs to a sounding harp. His most famous work is the golden ass, from which the story of cupid and psyche is taken. Characterisation in apuleius metamorphoses cambridge scholars. Instantly i was freed from sleep and leapt up, bathed in sweat, with feelings of fear and joy. Metamorphoses, the golden ass being the metamorphoses of lucius apuleius. Metamorphoses the golden ass, vol 2, books 711 by apuleius. His vocabulary and notes offer even a high school latin student the ability to read apuleius in the original without hesitation or apprehension. In this way, its sort of like an allyoucaneat buffetexcept once you get. Until book xi all of the acts experienced by lucius are that of him in the form of an ass. An old woman tells lucius the story of cupid and psyche books ivvi. Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of metamorphoses and what it means. The metamorphoses is a latin narrative poem by the roman poet ovid, considered his.
Roman philosopher and satirist whose bestknown work is the golden ass. Metamorphoses by apuleius book 274 editions published between 1500 and 2019 in 10 languages and held by 2,785 worldcat member libraries worldwide. But, i do wonder whether apuleius intended a 12th book. 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. He was a poet, philosopher, and rhetorician from whom numerous works survive some of doubtful authenticity. At the end of the novel, he is revealed to be from madaurus, the hometown of apuleius himself. Though the elder two were extremely pleasing, still it was thought they were only worthy of mortal praise. This book is the 751st greatest fiction book of all time as determined by. In the canterbury tales, the story of coronis and phoebus apollo book ii 531632 is adapted to form the basis for the manciples tale. I thought only cats were supposed to have nine lives, but this donkey has at least that many. The golden ass, being the metamorphoses of lucius apuleius. They hid all the costly gifts, and tearing their hair and lacerating their cheeks, as they deserved to do, falsely renewed their lamentations. 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 also published a monograph on aulus gellius gellius the satirist.
Section 1 79k section 2 72k section 3 75k section 4 77k download. Stephen harrison is professor of latin literature at the university of oxford and fellow and tutor in classics at corpus christi college. The translation used for the metamorphoses of apuleius is a revised version of the sixteenth century english translation 1566 of william adlington. All the other classical epics that we have are in either 12 virgil or 24 homer books. Apuleius enchanting story has inspired generations of writers such as boccaccio, shakespeare, cervantes and keats with its dazzling combination of allegory, satire, bawdiness and sheer exuberance, and the golden ass remains the most continuously and accessibly amusing book to have survived from classical antiquity.
It tells the tale of a young man who, by magic, is changed into an ass. However, before he is able to regain his human form through the grace of the goddess isis, the lively. It forms an integral part of and profoundly illuminates the message of his novel metamorphoses or the golden ass, which relates the adventures of a young man and his spiritual fall and redemption. This page contains details about the fiction book the golden ass metamorphoses. Book 1 book 2 book 3 book 4 book 5 book 6 book 7 book 8 book 9 book 10 book 11 book 12 book book 14 book 15 card. A new, complete, english translation, of the metamorphoses of lucius apuleius. The apology latin and english, with commentary, trans. The hero, lucius, eager to experience the sensations of a bird, resorts to. But 1 i would like to tie together different sorts of tales for you in that milesian style of yours, 2 and to caress your ears into approval with a pretty whisper, if only you will not begrudge looking at egyptian papyrus inscribed with the sharpness of a reed from the nile, 3 so that you may be amazed at mens forms and fortunes. Metamorphoses book 11, translated by brookes more death of orpheus 1 while with his songs, orpheus, the bard of thrace, allured the trees, the savage animals, and even the insensate rocks, to follow him. The question of whether book 11 of apuleius metamorphoses is a sincere religious evocation or a satirical parody continues to animate discussion among scholars. The florida is a collection of flamboyant highlights from the speeches of apuleius, delivered in africa in the second century a.
Id like to string together various tales in the milesian style, and charm your kindly ear with seductive murmurs, so long as youre ready to be amazed at human forms and fortunes changed radically and then restored in turn in mutual exchange, and dont object to reading egyptian papyri, inscribed by a sly reed from the nile. The internet classics archive the defense by apuleius. Cupids warning this wicked scheme greatly pleased the two wicked sisters. Italian writer must thank apuleius for at least two of his tales. His curiosity about magic gets him changed into a donkey. The plot revolves around the protagonists curiosity curiositas and insatiable. Apuleius definition of apuleius by the free dictionary. Initiations and mysteries in apuleius metamorphoses. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Book viii the tale of thrasyllus and charite, the eunuchs. Summary of the metamorphoses the spectacles of apuleius.