Towards a Commentary on Apuleius’ Metamorphoses Book III

Fritz Thyssen Research Stipend at the Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg

This project aims at the preparation of a commentary on Book 3 of the only complete Latin novel that has survived from classical antiquity, the Metamorphoses by Apuleius of Madauros (second century AD). This is the story of the magical transformation of the protagonist into a donkey and his adventures before he reacquires his human form. Since the protagonist’s transformation happens in Book 3, this book has a key function within the novel’s economy. Benefiting from my research background, I aim to produce a volume that will become a standard reference in classical scholarship, allowing for a fuller appreciation of both Apuleius’ Metamorphoses and the topic of ancient magic more generally

The project has enabled me to write a volume that offers an in-depth commentary with a new text and English translation of Apuleius’ Metamorphoses III. The introduction and appendix cast new light on the literary, stylistic and textual features as well as the philosophical, socio-cultural and religious context of Apuleius’ novel.