A particularly strong point of the book is its continuous attention to the overall composition of the novel and apuleius literary qualities, notably his narratological techniques. Metamorphoses, the golden ass being the metamorphoses of lucius apuleius. Sarah rudens superb translation of alpuleiss the golden ass illuminates this wonderful story with a brilliant modern wit. Apuleius group, as well as of the team project on writing a commentary on book 11 of the metamorphoses. In the chain of receptions of apuleius the golden ass from late antiquity through the. Thus students can not merely improve their latin in a pleasant way, but also appreciate the metamorphoses as a work of literature. 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. Wytse keulen currently teaches latin at the university of rostock. I wasnt particularly happy with the ending, in fact i skimmed and skipped around at that point. Rhetorical works oxford 2001 english by thomas taylor, apuleius on the god of socrates london 1822, repr. Robert graves 18951985 was a poet, novelist, and translator. This work is licensed under a creative commons attributionsharealike 3. His commentary on apuleius metamorphoses book i groningen commentaries on apuleius appeared in 2007.
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. Each of the 11 books are selfcontained chapters of about 20 pages with a spoilery summary of whats. 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 and jewishchristian literature. This page contains details about the fiction book the golden ass metamorphoses. Nancy shumate is associate professor of classical languages and literatures, smith college.
For the latter, no less than macrobius, must explain the metamorphoses with some reference to ancient. He also published a monograph on aulus gellius gellius the satirist. It will be argued that the underworld in apuleius novel is a literary. Apuleius was born in madauros, a colonia in numidia on the north african coast bordering gaetulia, and he described himself as halfnumidian halfgaetulian. It is among the works heavily referenced and emulated by cervantes in don quixote. Augustine referred to as the golden ass asinus aureus is the only latin novel to survive in its entirety. Giarratano, apulei metamorphoseon libri xi, 2nd ed.
Full text of apuleius the golden ass penguin classics. 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 golden ass edition 1 by apuleius 9780253200365. Occasionally i have added to the translation where adlington has omitted certain passages. 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. Perseus provides credit for all accepted changes, storing new additions in a versioning system. Metamorphoses the golden ass, vol 2, books 711 by apuleius. 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, horrific adventures before he regained his human form. Being the metamorphoses of lucius apuleius, books 7 11 apuleius on. Initiations and mysteries in apuleius metamorphoses sarolta a.
He studied platonism in athens, travelled to italy, asia minor, and egypt, and was an initiate in several cults or. 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 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. Featured audio all audio latest this just in grateful dead netlabels old time radio 78 rpms and cylinder recordings. Full search options are on the right side and top of the page.
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. He was a numidian who lived under the roman empire and was from madauros now mdaourouch, algeria. The isisbook metamorphoses, book xi, edited with an introduction, translation. Metamorphoses, book xi apuleius, john gwyn griffiths snippet view 1975 etudes preliminaires aux religions orientales dans lempire romain, volume 39. Apuleius the metamorphoses book 1 annotated edition edition. An unusually diverse and original piece of prose, it is by turns funny, dramatic, touching, erotic, and exciting. How to download a companion to the prologue to apuleius metamorphoses pdf. It was of great benefit to read books 16 of apuleius in the magnificent translation of j.
The golden ass or, the metamorphoses holds a unique place in world literature as the only complete latin novel to survive from antiquity. It had just turned noon when some gifts arrived from byrrhena, a succulent pig, five chickens, and a cask of expensive old wine. Mother, forgive me, and in my harsh misfortune, show a little human kindness. 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. Bibliography includes bibliographical references pages 567607 and indexes. There is plenty of room, as the text with notes is only 63 pages long. This quantity accommodates a brand new textual content and translation of the prologue and a variety of essays which spotlight its significance for college kids of classical literature and trendy literary concept. The plot revolves around the protagonists curiosity curiositas and insatiable. He was a poet, philosopher, and rhetorician from whom numerous works survive some of doubtful authenticity.
As well as being genuinely interesting and great fun to read, the. To beroaldo himself, apuleius greatly admired novel indeed offered. Pdf underworld journeys in apuleius metamorphoses stelios. 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. He studied platonism in athens, travelled to italy. Read the golden ass metamorphoses by apuleius available from rakuten kobo. Metamorphoses the golden ass, book eleven the isis book. As well as being genuinely interesting and great fun to read, the metamorphoses is of. 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. I show how apuleius portrays lucius as an articulate, but ignorant ass in order to. 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. The metamorphosis, also known as the golden ass, is one of the very few novels of the ancient world that survived to our days. Bryn mawr commentaries provide clear, concise, accurate, and consistent support for students making the transition from introductory and intermediate texts to the direct experience of ancient greek and latin literature.
Possible allusions to christians in metamorphoses 6 to 10. Costas panayotakis teaches latin language and literature at the. A new complete downloadable english translation of the roman novel. Religion and narrative in the metamorphoses of apuleius. To enrich and deepen his basic plot, the origins of which. The author apuleius is discussed in the literary environment of the second century ad together with key themes of the first book and the novel as a whole. In germany apuleius became a lutheran, and the story of lucius was read as exemplifying. The transformations of lucius fsg classics by apuleius isbn. Florida, for which new translations and commentaries are now likewise available. Holmes publishing group 2001 english by thomas taylor, the metamorphoses or golden ass and philosophical works of apuleius london 1822, repr. Summary of the metamorphoses the spectacles of apuleius. This edition of book i presents the latin text with a modern translation, substantial introduction and accompanying commentary.
Apuleius the golden ass, or metamorphoses, is the only latin novel to survive in its entirety. The last part of the book, book 11, is mainly about lucius study and initiation. 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. Metamorphoses the golden ass, vol 2, books 7 11 book. A seriocomic interpretation of apuleius, metamorphoses 11. Project muse an interpretation of apuleius metamorphoses. The following is an english translation made by william adlington in 1566 of book 11 chapters.
Metamorphoses i apuleius of madauros metamorphoses book i 1. 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. This volume reveals how apuleius metamorphoses the only fully extant roman novel and a classic of world literature works as a piece of literature, exploring its poetics and the way in which questions of production and reception are reflected in its text. Instantly i was freed from sleep and leapt up, bathed in sweat, with feelings of fear and joy. Apuleius metamorphoses book 3 hackett publishing company. Crisis and conversion in apuleius metamorphoses will be of interest to classicists and scholars of silver latin and of the increasingly popular ancient novel, as well as to students of psychology and the sociology of religious experience. Apuleius story of cupid and psyche, the relationship of the human soul with divine love, is one of the great allegories of world literature. Apuleius metamorphoses stefan tilg oxford university. Metamorphoseon libri xi asinus aureus book by apulee. Enter a perseus citation to go to another section or work. At the end of the novel, he is revealed to be from madaurus, the hometown of apuleius himself.
Please note that, in spite of my updating, this is still an old translation. A companion to the prologue to apuleius metamorphoses pdf. 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 is not always equivalent to one numbered section in apuleius. Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. Vincent hunink has argued that apuleius probably had some knowledge of christianity, and that his antipathy toward it may be shown in his trial for witchcraft by his sympathetic attitude toward lollius urbicus, the city prefect in rome who had prosecuted apuleius enemy, aemilianus apology 2, 11. Hide browse bar your current position in the text is marked in blue. Yet i believe that it remains true that light can be shed on that experience by a comparison with the christian conversion of st. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. 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. 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 philologian. Composed in the second century, this picaresque work tells the tale of lucius, a man whose curiosity in magic and indulgence of sexual pleasures leads him to. An xml version of this text is available for download, with the additional restriction that you offer perseus any modifications you make. The golden ass, being the metamorphoses of lucius apuleius. 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.
Sarah rudens new translation of apuleius neoplatonist romp about a guy who magically turns into a donkey. His curiosity about magic gets him changed into a donkey. It is only after these religious initiations that lucius reentered society. The metamorphoses annotated edition by apuleius, ruebel, james s. This is the first volume dedicated to the topic of characterisation in apuleius metamorphoses, the latin novel from the second century ce. Book xi is an unprecedented rupture in narrative structurethe conversion ritual to the goddess isis, and then curiously. Summary using a transdisciplinary approach for a thorough assessment of the muchdebated religious ending of the metamorphoses, this new and detailed commentary on apuleius isis book will elucidate the narrative in its literary, religious, archaeological and cultural context. Initiations and mysteries in apuleius metamorphoses. Latin text, with facing translation, substantial introduction and. 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. Being the metamorphoses of lucius apuleius, books 7 11. This book is the 751st greatest fiction book of all time as determined by. Yet i believe that it remains true that light can be shed. The experiences of a long life have not, i think, exhausted the springs of pity in that revered grey head of yours.
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