Written towards the end of the second century AD, The Golden Ass tells the story of the many adventures of a young man whose fascination with witchcraft leads him to be transformed into a donkey. The bewitched Lucius passes from owner to owner - encountering a desperate gang of robbers and being forced to perform lewd 'human' tricks on stage - until the Goddess Isis finally breaks the spell and Lucius is initiated into her cult. Apuleius' enchanting story has inspired generations of writer...

Cupid and Psyche is a story from the Latin novel Metamorphoses, also known as The Golden Ass, written in the 2nd century AD by Apuleius. It concerns the overcoming of obstacles to the love between Psyche ("Soul" or "Breath of Life") and Cupid ("Desire"), and their ultimate union in a sacred marriage.

“Think of Anna Sewell’s Black Beauty, throw in generous helpings of humor, sex, and magic, and you might get a rough idea of what The Golden Ass is like.” —Peter SingerPeter Singer and Ellen Finkelpearl breathe new life into Apuleius’s The Golden Ass—a hilarious, bawdy tale and one of the earliest novels—accentuating its remarkable empathy for animals.Conceived at the zenith of the Roman Empire, Apuleius’s The...

Apuleius (c. 125-c. 180) was a student of Platonist philosophy and Latin prose writer who produced the novel "Metamorphoses", more popularly known as "The Golden Ass". This work is the only Latin novel to survive in its entirety. Adapted from an earlier Greek story, "The Golden Ass" tells of the adventures of Lucius, a young man who is obsessed with magic. In attempting to perform a spell, Lucius inadvertently transforms himself into an ass. His long and arduous journey is ornately illustr...

In The Golden Ass, Lucian is on a business trip to Greece when he finds himself accidentally transformed into a donkey. He narrates his provincial odyssey in a world where old gods rule, Fortune is fickle, and Thessalian witches are puissant.Apuleius was a second-century speaker and writer born in present-day Algeria. He traveled extensively, studied philosophy, was initiated into mystery cults, and became a priest. He was also tried for witchcraft.Translated by Adlington i...

In The Apologia, Roman writer and philosopher Apuleius delivers a brilliant legal defense speech before a Roman court, refuting charges of sorcery brought against him during his stay in Sabratha. With wit, rhetorical skill, and philosophical insight, Apuleius argues that his scholarly pursuits in philosophy, science, and religion are not criminal but reflect the intellectual traditions of the ancient world. The speech reveals much about Roman provincial life, legal procedure, and the suspi...

Apuleius (/ˌæpjʉˈliːəs/; also called Lucius Apuleius Madaurensis; c. 124 – c. 170 AD) was a Latin-language prose writer. He was a Numidian Berber who lived under the Roman Empire and was from Madaurus (now M'Daourouch, Algeria). He studied Platonist philosophy in Athens, travelled to Italy, Asia Minor, and Egypt and was an initiate in several cults or mysteries. The most famous incident in his life was when he was accused of using magic to gain the attentions (and fortune) of a wealthy wid...

"Cupid and Psyche" first appears in a early, risqué novel by an African Roman of the 2nd century CE. His name was Lucius Apuleius, known as Africanus. His novel is thought to give us inside details of the workings of ancient mystery rites, as well as this charming romantic story of love between a mortal and a god.The myth of Cupid and Psyche is one of the great love stories of the ancient world and it even has a happy ending. It's also a myth in which a heroine must prove her mettl...

The story of Cupid and Psyche is part of The Golden Ass or Metamorphoses, a Latin novel by Apuleius (second century A.D.). It is both a charming fairytale and an allegory of the search of the Soul for happiness and fulfillment. This edition, the first with a full commentary in English to appear for eighty years, comprises a Latin text with facing translation, making the edition more accessible to students of comparative literature. An introduction and a commentary provide help with interpr...

Apuleius (/ˌæpjʉˈliːəs/; also called Lucius Apuleius Madaurensis; c. 124 – c. 170 AD)[1] was a Latin-language prose writer. He was a Numidian Berber who lived under the Roman Empire[2] and was from Madaurus (now M'Daourouch, Algeria). He studied Platonist philosophy in Athens, travelled to Italy, Asia Minor, and Egypt and was an initiate in several cults or mysteries. The most famous incident in his life was when he was accused of using magic to gain the attentions (and fortune) of a wealt...

"The Golden Asse," also known as "The Metamorphoses," is a novel written by the Roman author Apuleius in the 2nd century AD. It is considered one of the earliest surviving novels in Western literature and is known for its blend of comic and serious elements, as well as its use of magical and supernatural themes.The story follows the adventures of Lucius, a young man who is transformed into a donkey after dabbling in magic. Lucius travels through various parts of the Roman Empire and witnes...

The Metamorphoses, also known as The Golden Ass, is an ancient Roman novel by Apuleius that follows the misadventures of Lucius, a curious young man who accidentally transforms himself into a donkey through forbidden magic. As he is passed from owner to owner, enduring hardship and witnessing both the absurdity and cruelty of human nature, Lucius seeks redemption and divine intervention. The story blends satire, folklore, and religious revelation, offering insight into Roman society, myste...