Satyricon

The Satyricon, Satyricon liber (The Book of Satyrlike Adventures), or Satyrica, is a Latin work of fiction believed to have been written by Gaius Petronius in the late 1st century AD, though the manuscript tradition identifies the author as Titus Petronius. The Satyricon is an example of Menippean satire, which is different from the formal verse satire of Juvenal or Horace. The work contains a mixture of prose and verse (commonly known as ); serious and comic elements; and erotic and decadent passages. As with The Golden Ass by Apuleius (also called the Metamorphoses), classical scholars often describe it as a Roman novel, without necessarily implying continuity with the modern literary form. The surviving sections of the original (much longer) text detail the bizarre exploits of the narrator, Encolpius, and his (possible) slave and catamite Giton, a handsome sixteen-year-old boy. It is the second most fully preserved Roman novel, after the fully extant The Golden Ass by Apuleius, which has significant differences in style and plot. Satyricon is also regarded as useful evidence for the reconstruction of how lower classes lived during the early Roman Empire. Principal characters Encolpius: The narrator and principal character, moderately well educated and presumably from a relatively elite background Giton: A handsome sixteen-year-old boy, a (possible) slave and a sexual partner of Encolpius Ascyltos: A friend of Encolpius, rival for the ownership of Giton Trimalchio: An extremely vulgar and wealthy freedman Eumolpus: An aged, impoverished and lecherous poet of the sort rich men are said to hate Lichas: An enemy of Encolpius Tryphaena: A woman infatuated with Giton Corax: A barber, the hired servant of Eumolpus Circe: A woman attracted to Encolpius Chrysis: Circe's servant, also in love with Encolpius