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Apuleius’ Golden Ass

Apuleius’ Golden Ass. Desire and its Discontents 2. Values in the Golden Ass …. What is non-normative in Apuleius’ novel? And is there something like a “Satan”?. Discussion. non-normative. Satan. was there a single Satan? Satanic things… (so there is a value system) Venus

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Apuleius’ Golden Ass

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  1. Apuleius’ Golden Ass Desire and its Discontents 2

  2. Values in the Golden Ass… What is non-normative in Apuleius’ novel? And is there something like a “Satan”?

  3. Discussion non-normative Satan was there a single Satan? Satanic things… (so there is a value system) Venus satan is in the desires curiosity is “satanic” or evilish teratogenic grid monstrous non-nomativity satan figure is fortune no real pure source of eveil • relations between humans and animals • bestiality • issue of cowardice • strong powerful women demonized • troupe of queens • feminine • greedy and dishonest • 2 sisters • normative marriage values Golden Ass 2

  4. A gladiator fights his own phallus.(1st-cent. CE Wind-chime from Pompeii)

  5. Agenda • Recap and Update • Plato’s Symposium Revisited? • Sexual Universality? • The Priests of the Syrian Goddess Golden Ass 2

  6. Recap and Update Plato’s Symposium Revisited?

  7. Story Arc • Lucius curiosus • wants to see magic Meroe • watches, turns into an ass • Lucius asinus • abusive treatment, fortune comes to the fore • Lucius initiatus • … Golden Ass 2

  8. Plato’s Symposium Redux Pausanias’ Speech Socrates’/Diotima’s Speech Physical erōs to… procreate bodies Philosophical erōs to... procreate ideas • “Vulgar” erōs for… • same/mixed-gender sexual pleasure • “Heavenly” erōs for... • Male-male friendship (with benefits) “the beauties of the body are as nothing to the beauties of the soul (psukhē)” (p. 562) Golden Ass 2

  9. Greek ~ Latin Equivalencies Greek Apuleius’ Latin Venus Cupid Psyche • Aphrodite • Eros • psukhē Golden Ass 2

  10. reunion,reconciliation,apotheosis marriage,temptation trials, slavery restoration,conversion Narrative-Thematic Arcs temptation,transformation Psyche Psyche Lucius Slavery, sexual performance, humiliation

  11. Non-Platonic Elements? • Wayward desire, passions as “monster” • “Monster” tamed as marriage • Marriage as Roman • Lex iulia (de adulteriiscoercendis) • Marriage by manus (male domination) • Daughter Voluptas (“Pleasure”)? Golden Ass 2

  12. Sexual Universality? The Priests of the Syrian Goddess

  13. Are They “Gay”? (What is Salient?) “… he [Philebus] was a real old queen (cinaedum)” (pp. 141) “ ‘Look, girls (puellae),at the pretty slave [Lucius] I’ve bought.’ [… the others] saying that this wasn’t a servant ... but a husband (non enim seruum, sed maritum) for himself” (p. 143) “… these effeminates (semivirisillis)...” (p. 144) Dea Syria

  14. Discussion Golden Ass 2

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