Publisher's Synopsis
The Satyricon of Petronius Arbiter is a novel written by the Roman author Petronius, Gaius, believed to have been written during the reign of Emperor Nero in the first century AD. The book is a satire of Roman society, depicting the adventures of a group of characters as they travel through the cities of southern Italy. The novel is divided into several sections, each depicting a different episode in the lives of the characters. The main character, Encolpius, is a young man who is travelling with his friend and former lover, Giton. Throughout the novel, they encounter a variety of characters, including a wealthy merchant, a gladiator, and a priestess of the goddess Priapus. The book is notable for its frank depiction of sexuality and its use of vulgar language, which was unusual for literature of the time. The Satyricon has been praised for its humor and its insight into the social and cultural norms of ancient Rome.1922. With an essay by Charles Whibley. Satyricon, ascribed by tradition to that of Petronius who, at the court of Nero, acted as arbiter of elegance and dictator of fashion. The Satyricon is a romance with skillfully drawn characters, written in prose interspersed with verse. Parts of the 15th and 16th books have been preserved. Among the surviving fragments the most complete and valuable section is the Cena Trimalchionis, presenting a humorous episode of vulgar display on the part of a man whose great wealth is newly acquired. These satires furnish a vivid study of the life and manners of the time in a sustained, connected example of the colloquial language. The Latin style of Petronius is among the best of its period.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.
