The hero, lucius, eager to experience the sensations of a bird, resorts to. His commentary on apuleius metamorphoses book i groningen commentaries on apuleius appeared in 2007. There, vulcan, the god of fire and technology, had created a picture of the world through metalworking. In the metamorphoses of apuleius, also known as the golden ass, we have the only latin novel which survives entire.
A new, complete, english translation, of the metamorphoses of lucius apuleius. Translated by sir samuel garth, john dryden, et al. 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. Initiations and mysteries in apuleius metamorphoses. 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. 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. Book 11 editions published between 1998 and 2015 in english. Stephen harrison is professor of latin literature at the university of oxford and fellow and tutor in classics at corpus christi college. The golden ass the metamorphoses of apuleiuslucius. With an introduction, in which the meaning of the fable is unfolded.
Psyche was a woman born of beauty comparable only to venus herself. Apuleius metamorphoses book 3 hackett publishing company. Lucius wants the sensations of a bird, but by pharmaceutical accident becomes an ass. 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. 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. 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. Readings of apuleius metamorphoses in honor of maike zimmerman ancient narrative supplelemtum 6. Often treated as a standalone text, cupid and psyche has given rise to treatments in the last 400 years as diverse as plays, masques, operas, poems, paintings and novels, with a range of diverse. It is both a charming fairytale and an allegory of the search of the soul for happiness and fulfillment. Enter a perseus citation to go to another section or work. Apuleius tale of cupid and psyche has been popular since it was first written in the second century ce as part of his latin novel metamorphoses. 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. Including a complete latin text and english translation of the peri hermeneias of apuleius of madaura philosophia antiqua. But it is a remarkable fact that all early translations into french, german, and english had become landmark events in the development of elegant writing. It is only after these religious initiations that lucius reentered society. There is plenty of room, as the text with notes is only 63 pages long.
The plot revolves around the protagonists curiosity curiositas and. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Apuleiuss golden ass is a unique, entertaining, and thoroughly readable latin novelthe only work of fiction in latin to have survived from antiquity. Pdf the story of cupid and psyche as related by apuleius.
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. 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. Meanwhile europas father, in ignorance of this, orders his son cadmus to search for the stolen girl, and adds that exile is his punishment if he fails to find her, showing himself, by the same action, both pious and. We agreed not to force them, shatter them, or remove them, for fear the noise would rouse his neighbours and give the game away. Sixteenthcentury french version of apuleius metamorphoses. Apuleius was born in about 125, in madauros, numidia. The transformations of lucius apuleius, and the rites of isis. This is the first volume dedicated to the topic of characterisation in apuleius metamorphoses, the latin novel from the second century ce.
Apuleius was born in madauros, a colonia in numidia on the north african coast bordering gaetulia, and he described himself as halfnumidian halfgaetulian. The golden ass is considered the only novel to survive the roman period, and the earliest novel to survive complete in the western literary tradition. A new complete downloadable english translation of the roman novel. Butlers english translation and an english crib with discussion and commentary apology as prosecution. It is not known what his first name was, although writers in the middle ages often called him lucius apuleius because the hero of his novel was called lucius. Wytse keulen currently teaches latin at the university of rostock. Until book xi all of the acts experienced by lucius are that of him in the form of an ass. He was a poet, philosopher, and rhetorician from whom numerous works survive some of doubtful authenticity. Metamorphoses the golden ass, vol 2, books 711 by apuleius. Instantly i was freed from sleep and leapt up, bathed in sweat, with feelings of fear and joy. The death of orpheus here, while the thracian bards enchanting strain sooths beasts, and woods, and all the. Apuleius simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
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. It tells the story of the hero lucius, whose curiosity and fascination for sex and magic results in his transformation into an ass. 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. Metamorphoses project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks.
The metamorphoses of apuleius has intrigued and perplexed scholars throughout the ages. Apuleius the metamorphoses book 1 annotated edition. The latin is accompanied by a facing english translation, making the edition more accessible to students of comparative literature as well as to classicists. The metamorphoses was one of the earliest classical latin texts to be printed.
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. At the end of the novel, he is revealed to be from madaurus, the hometown of apuleius himself. This page contains details about the fiction book the golden ass metamorphoses. 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. 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. Full text of apuleius the golden ass penguin classics. This book presents a thorough reexamination of apuleius platonic philosophy, encompassing both his philosophical and literary works. He studied platonism in athens, travelled to italy, asia minor, and egypt, and was an initiate in several cults. Book 3 a new complete downloadable english translation with comprehensive index, and other poetry translations including baudelaire, chinese, european. 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.
Together with alessandro barchiesi he will author and edit a fourvolume complete commentary on apuleius novel for the italian publisher vallamondadori. Latin, with introduction and commentary in english. An old woman tells lucius the story of cupid and psyche books ivvi. The golden ass, being the metamorphoses of lucius apuleius. It was of great benefit to read books 16 of apuleius in the magnificent translation of j. It had just turned noon when some gifts arrived from byrrhena, a succulent pig, five chickens, and a cask of expensive old wine. The thing is, just because the metamorphoses doesnt have a recognizable storyline doesnt mean it isnt jampacked with mythological goodies. A native of north africa, he traveled throughout the eastern mediterranean. 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. 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. If one or more works are by a distinct, homonymous authors, go ahead and split the author. Including a complete latin text and english translation of the peri hermeneias of apuleius of madaura philosophia antiqua brill. 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.
The mellon foundation provided support for entering this text. He was a numidian who lived under the roman empire and was from madauros now mdaourouch, algeria. This work is the only latin novel to survive in its entirety. His curiosity about magic gets him changed into a donkey. After many adventures he is finally saved by the goddess isis, whose follower he becomes. 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. Behold, bacchus, the prompter and armsbearer of venus, has appeared as well. Occasionally i have added to the translation where adlington has omitted certain passages. Sixteenthcentury french version of apuleius metamorphoses with woodcuts by bernard saloman. Bibliography includes bibliographical references pages 567607 and indexes. The story of cupid and psyche is part of the golden ass or metamorphoses, a latin novel by apuleius second century a. Metamorphoses by ovid, part of the internet classics archive.
To which are added, a metrical version of cupid and psyche, and, mrs. A search query can be a title of the book, a name of the author, isbn or anything else. The internet classics archive metamorphoses by ovid. Please note that, in spite of my updating, this is still an old translation. A seriocomic interpretation of apuleius, metamorphoses 11. He also published a monograph on aulus gellius gellius the satirist. Summary of the metamorphoses the spectacles of apuleius. Religion and narrative in the metamorphoses of apuleius. I show how apuleius portrays lucius as an articulate, but ignorant ass in.
189 1612 122 691 225 1021 367 1545 344 578 116 1374 1609 1372 139 572 1463 947 537 916 1539 1116 605 794 61 417 1164 1011 1110 972 133 1056 747 533 406 506 903 1424 729 828 1342 1263