The Satyricon is one of the most outrageous and strikingly modern works to have survived from the ancient world. Most likely written by an advisor of Nero, it recounts the adventures of Encolpius and his companions as they travel around Italy, encountering courtesans, priestesses, con men, brothel-keepers, pompous professors and, above all, Trimalchio, the nouveau riche millionaire whose debauched feasting and pretentious vulgarity make him one of the great comic characters in literature.

Heinsius and Scaliger derive the word from the Greek, whence comes our English word satyr, but Casaubon, Dacier and Spanheim derive it from the Latin ‘satura,’ a plate filled with different kinds of food, and they refer to Porphyrion’s ‘multis et variis rebus hoc carmen refertum est.’ The text, as we possess it, may be divided into three divisions: the first and last relate the adventures of Encolpius and his companions, the second, which is a digression, describes the Dinner of Trimalchio...

The Satyricon, or Satyricon liber ("The Book of Satyrlike Adventures), is a Latin book of fiction believed to have been written by Gaius Petronius, though the manuscript tradition identifies the author as a certain Titus Petronius. The Satyricon is an example of Menippean satire, which is very different from the formal verse satire of Juvenal or Horace. The work contains a mixture of prose and verse (commonly known as prosimetrum); serious and comic elements; and erotic and dec...

The satyricon of Petronius Arbiter Volume 6 continues a satirical exploration of society through fragmented episodes that expose excess, desire, and instability within everyday life. The narrative focuses on shifting relationships marked by jealousy, rivalry, and emotional volatility, using personal conflict as a mirror for broader social decay. Intimacy and betrayal are treated with dark humor, revealing how affection and loyalty are often undermined by self-interest and insecurity. The s...

The Satyricon of Petronius Arbiter Volume 1 introduction offers a vivid portrayal of Roman life through a blend of satire, sharp observation, and commentary on social excess. The work follows a wandering narrator whose unpredictable journey exposes the contradictions, desires, and moral inconsistencies of the society around him. As he moves through cities and households, he encounters shifting displays of wealth, indulgence, and ambition that reveal how easily status and luxury distort hum...

The Satyricon of Petronius Arbiter Volume 2 introduction offers a vivid portrayal of Roman life through a blend of satire, sharp observation, and commentary on social excess. The work follows a wandering narrator whose unpredictable journey exposes the contradictions, desires, and moral inconsistencies of the society around him. As he moves through cities and households, he encounters shifting displays of wealth, indulgence, and ambition that reveal how easily status and luxury distort hum...

The satyricon of Petronius Arbiter Volume 4 continues a satirical exploration of society through fragmented episodes that expose excess, desire, and instability within everyday life. The narrative focuses on shifting relationships marked by jealousy, rivalry, and emotional volatility, using personal conflict as a mirror for broader social decay. Intimacy and betrayal are treated with dark humor, revealing how affection and loyalty are often undermined by self-interest and insecurity. The s...

The satyricon of Petronius Arbiter Volume 7 continues a satirical exploration of society through fragmented episodes that expose excess, desire, and instability within everyday life. The narrative focuses on shifting relationships marked by jealousy, rivalry, and emotional volatility, using personal conflict as a mirror for broader social decay. Intimacy and betrayal are treated with dark humor, revealing how affection and loyalty are often undermined by self-interest and insecurity. The s...

The satyricon of Petronius Arbiter Volume 3 continues a satirical exploration of society through fragmented episodes that expose excess, desire, and instability within everyday life. The narrative focuses on shifting relationships marked by jealousy, rivalry, and emotional volatility, using personal conflict as a mirror for broader social decay. Intimacy and betrayal are treated with dark humor, revealing how affection and loyalty are often undermined by self-interest and insecurity. The s...

The satyricon of Petronius Arbiter Volume 5 continues a satirical exploration of society through fragmented episodes that expose excess, desire, and instability within everyday life. The narrative focuses on shifting relationships marked by jealousy, rivalry, and emotional volatility, using personal conflict as a mirror for broader social decay. Intimacy and betrayal are treated with dark humor, revealing how affection and loyalty are often undermined by self-interest and insecurity. The s...

The Satyricon, Complete by Petronius Arbiter.

The satyricon of Petronius Arbiter presents a sharp and imaginative portrayal of social life, using exaggerated scenes and humorous criticism to expose the instability, desire, and absurdity that shape human behavior. The work opens with a reflective introduction that considers the text’s survival across different eras, noting how its rediscovery renewed interest in its unconventional style and its bold exploration of social excess. This beginning guides the reader toward the unfolding nar...