Petronius, Satyrica 79-141
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Titus Petronius Arbiter
The Satyrica of Petronius, one of the fictional key texts in ancient literature, have been the focus of international research since the 1960s. It is all the more surprising, therefore, that modern commentators have only concentrated on the central part of the work, the famous Cena Trimalchionis. This defect is now remedied with Habermehl’s commentary on the especially neglected second half of the work (a second volume, on Sat. 111’141, is scheduled to follow in about two years’ time). The commentary provides the reader with all the necessary apparatus for understanding the language, the factual elements and the action of the text. In addition, it includes critical discussion of the novel as an exemplar, and thus renders a contribution of fundamental importance to the interpretation of the Satyrica in their entirety, which are still the subject of much controversy.
Petronius' Satyrica, one of the most authoritative fictional texts of ancient literature, has been the focus of international research since the 1960s. For a long time, only the central part of this text, the famous Cena Trimalchionis, was analysed in modern commentaries.
The commentary presented here remedies this situation for the particularly neglected second half of the work. It provides the reader with everything they need to understand the language, the realia and the plot. In addition, it analyses the scholarly discussion of the novel in an exemplary manner and thus makes a fundamental contribution to the still controversial interpretation of the Satyrica as a whole.
At the centre of the exegesis is the famous novella of the "Widow of Ephesus", whose controversial discussion in modern secondary literature is examined as well as its role in the context of the novel.
Petronius’ Satyrica, one of the significant fictional texts of Antiquity, stands since decades in the focus of international research. This new commentary on the second half of the Satyrica presents the reader with all relevant information regarding the language, the “Realien” (antiquarian facts) and the novel’s plot. In addition it engages with the scholarly discussion on the novel and thus contributes to the Satyrica’s interpretation.
