Апология

by Apuleius, Димитър Бояджиев (Translator)

Lucius Apuleius (c. AD 123-c. AD 180), was a Romanised Berber who is best remembered for his bawdy picaresque Latin novel The Golden Ass, otherwise known as the Metamorphoses. It is the only Latin novel which has survived in its entirety, and is an imaginative, irreverent, and amusing work which relates the ludicrous adventures of one Lucius, who experiments in magic and is accidentally turned into an ass. In this guise he hears and sees many unusual things, until escaping from his predicament in a rather unexpected way. Within this frame story are found multiple digressions, the longest among them being the well-known tale of Cupid and Psyche. Apuleius first work, the Apologia (A Discourse on Magic) was written in his own defence after being accused of using magic to gain the attentions (and fortune) of the wealthy widow he married. Other works include On the God of Socrates, Florida, On Plato and his Doctrine, and possibly On the Universe.

Genres: Classics, Ancient History

174 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 170

About the author

People best know The Golden Ass , work of Roman philosopher and satirist Lucius Apuleius.

Apuleius (Lucius Apuleius Madaurensis “Africanus”; Berber: Afulay) wrote Latin-language prose.

This Berber of Numidia lived under the empire. From Madaurus (now M'Daourouch, Algeria), he studied Platonism in Athens and traveled to Italy, Asia Minor and Egypt. Several cults or mysteries initiated him.
In the most famous incident in his life, people then accused him of using magic to gain the attentions and fortune of a wealthy widow. Apuleius declaimed and then distributed a witty tour de force in his own defense before the proconsul and a court of magistrates convened in Sabratha, near ancient Tripoli, Libya.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apuleius

Reviews

[Mark Russell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Apuleius, the author of The Golden Ass, was literally the victim of a witch hunt. Soon after he married a rich widow, his wife took ill and suffered an untimely death, which aroused the suspicion of some people. Namely, those who wanted to get rid of him and secure his wife's estate for themselves. Apuleius was accused and tried for using magic to seduce and then kill his wife. The Apologia is the defense he offered at his trial.

The evidence offered against him was entirely laughable and would never be allowed in any modern court, unless maybe you were being tried in Arkansas. Among other things, he was accused of possessing "obscene fish." It was also noted that he owned a mirror as well as a mysterious powder from Arabia, which happened to be an ancient form of toothpaste. They also suggested that dozens of people were known to mysteriously collapse to the ground in Apuleius' presence. So many, he noted, "that it is more as if I'm being accused of being a wrestler than a magician."

As funny as the charges were, Apuleius' defense is even better. He eviscerates his accusers with his customary wit. At one point, while defending his obscene fish collection, he explains that he keeps an aquarium as research as he has written a book on fish, at which point he stops the trial to read a section from said book. Then, as now, a smart author knows not to waste an audience.

As the trial goes on and Apuleius effortlessly knocks down each piece of evidence arrayed against him, he also slowly pulls back the curtain on his accusers' shady motives and seedy pasts. By the end of the book, it feels more like an episode of Falcon Crest than a trial transcript.

The Florida appears to be simply thrown onto the back of The Apologia because they're both too short to merit publication on their own. The Florida is much shorter than The Apologia and consists of random observations concerning everything from Alexander the Great to parrot-training. (According to Apuleius, the best way to teach a parrot to speak is to feed it acorns and periodically beat it on the head.)

The Florida lacks the verve and charm of The Apologia, so for those interested in reading this book, I would recommend sitting through The Apologia and treating The Florida like the post-film outtakes of Dom DeLuise tripping over his sandwich cooler. It's strictly optional and don't feel bad about walking out before it's over.

[Gabriel Plaza · Rating 4 out of 5]

(solo leí la Apología) Discurso de defensa de Apuleyo ante la acusación de brujería de algunos familiares de su esposa, con intención de quitárselo de en medio y sacar tajada de la herencia. Con habilidad, con humor, y sin dejar títere con cabeza, Apuleyo explota todos los posibles razonamientos y hace evidente lo ridículo y calumnioso de la acusación. No solo hace una defensa de sí mismo, sino también de la filosofía, la poesía y la ciencia, y advierte del peligro que podría llegar a entrañar que se aceptasen, sin pruebas, ese tipo de acusaciones. Tiene varios excursos (posiblemente expandidos a posteriori, al revisar el discurso para la publicación) muy interesantes: sobre la epilepsia, sobre los espejos... En ciertas partes Apuleyo deja salir las bilis y echa pestes de la parte contraria, con momentos bastante divertidos

[Eleanor Sullivan]

Me as a lawyer

[Rex Libris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Apuleius is most know for his work "The Golden Asse," the only Latin novel to survive to modern ages in its entirety. This work is a collection of other writings, some of them fragmentary. The Apologia his court defense when accused of using magic to attract his wife. she was a widow with a rather large estate, and others wanting the money for their own tried to get Apuleius out of the way with these charges.

The Florida is a collection of fragments of public orations, often on the topic of philosophy and the Greek philosophers.

[Bárbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Con este libro he aprendido mucho a la vez que me he divertido porque la elocuencia de Apuleyo es muy grande. He de decir que me ha gustado más Apología que Flórida, cosa que es normal.