Transcript Petronius’ Satyricon - Binghamton University

“A B C”?
Gallias Caesar subegit, Nicomedes Caesarem:
ecce Caesar nunc triumphat qui subegit Gallias,
Nicomedes non triumphat qui subegit Caesarem.
“Caesar conquered Gaul, Nicomedes conquered
Caesar. See how Caesar, conqueror of Gaul, now
triumphs, while Nicomedes doesn’t triumph,
though he conquered Caesar.”
(Suetonius, Life of Julius Caesar 49)
Agenda
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Recap & Update
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Petronius’ Satyricon
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From Juvenal to Petronius
Author, Context, Theme
S&G in Satyricon (part 1)
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An Emerging Picture…
3
Recap & Update
From Juvenal to Petronius
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Roman Bipolarity
“I hate and I love. Why I do this,
perhaps you ask. I know not, but I feel
it happening and I am tortured.”
(Catullus Poem 85)
Juvenal: Student’s Comment
“Have you ever listened to Eminem. Juvenal is
almost as good as Eminem?”
ABC
Juvenal: Student’s Question
“Is it possible that the over-the-top-ness of
these selections is not representative of an
essentially Roman attitude, but rather a selfreferential characterization presenting the
attitude itself as the object of ridicule?”
Can, in other words, the phallus fight itself and still “mean” something?
Petronius’ Satyricon
Author, Context, Theme
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Petronius and Nero
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Nero (Nero Claudius Caesar)
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r. 54-68
Philhellene
artiste
Petronius
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arbiter elegantiae
(overseer of entertainments)
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suicide, 65 CE
Satyricon (episodic novel)
Nero
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The World of the Satyricon…
Puteoli
Naples
Pompeii
Cave canem, “Beware of the dog!” - Pompeii
House of the Vettii
Peristyle Garden
Large Dining Room (triclinium)
House of the Vettii, Pompeii
Large Dining Room
(triclinium)
Peristyle Garden
(Priapus)
Peristyle Garden
Atrium
Vestibule
(Priapus)
Trimalchio & Co. Bathing (pp. 79 ff.)
What do you see?
What do you see?
Priapus
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Satyricon: Theme and Layout

Three fratres
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Encolpius
Ascyltus
Giton
Priapic bipolarity
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depletion
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Quartilla’s orgy
Encolpius’ impotence
excess
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Trimalchio’s feast
Priapus
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S&G in Satyricon (part 1)
An Emerging Picture…
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20
Satyricon – Some Quotes

ultimo cinaedus supervenit myrtea subornatus gausapa cinguloque succinctus
(§21)
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interim mulieres sauciae inter se riserunt ebriaeque iunxerunt oscula, dum altera
diligentiam matris familiae iactat, altera delicias et indiligentiam viri (§67)
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“As the crowning touch to our miseries, in waddled a eunuch (cinaedus) dressed in a
robe of myrtle green bound up in a sash” (p. 34)
“By this time both the women were high and sat there giggling and exchanging little hugs
and kisses, Fortunata boasting about her abilities as a housekeeper and Scintilla
complaining of her husband’s favorites and his indifference to her (p. 73)
interpellavit loquentem Scintilla et: “Plane, inquit, non omnia artificia servi nequam
narras. agaga est; at curabo stigmam habeat.” risit Trimalchio et: “adcognosco,
inquit, Cappadocem: nihil sibi defraudit, et mehercules laudo illum; hoc enim
nemo parentat (§69)

“ ‘You haven’t mentioned all the little bugger’s tricks,’ broke in Scintilla angrily. ‘He’s a
little pimp (agaga) and a fairy, that’s what he is, and someday I’ll see he’s branded for it’ ”
Trimalchio guffawed at this. “Come on, Scintilla, don’t be jealous. We know what the
score is with you. And why not, I’d like to know” (p. 74)
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S&G in Satyricon So Far…
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Satyricon as “Proving Ground”…
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