Lucius Apuleius

A Roman literary figure. Born to a prominent member of the town of Madaura (or Madaurus) in Numidia. He received his primary education in Madaura, studied rhetoric in Carthage, and Plato's philosophy in Athens. After completing his studies, he traveled to Greece and Asia Minor, where he became devoted to the worship of Isis. After working for a time as a teacher of rhetoric and a lawyer in Rome, he returned to Africa and married an older, wealthy widowed woman named Pudentilla. Over this marriage, he was accused by his wife's relatives of using magic to seduce Pudentilla, but he used his eloquence to refute the charges and was found innocent. He made a name for himself in Carthage, and spent the rest of his life as a priest in the worship of the emperor. His works include the legendary novel "Metamorphoses" (or "The Golden Ass"), which tells the story of the young Lucius who transforms into a donkey, experiences various experiences, and then transforms back into a human by the power of the goddess Isis; "Apology," a defense against an lawsuit over marriage; "Florida," a collection of famous phrases by Apuleius; and "The God of Socrates," "Plato and His Teachings," and "On the World." His writing style is flamboyant, mixing classical expressions with slang. His works were widely accepted by the people of his time.

[Toki Masasaku]

"The Golden Donkey, translated by Go Shigeichi and Kunihara Yoshinosuke, 2 volumes (Iwanami Bunko)"

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

古代ローマの文学者。ヌミディアのマダウラ（またはマダウルス）で町の有力者の家に生まれる。マダウラで初等教育、カルタゴで修辞学、アテネでプラトンの哲学を学ぶ。修学後ギリシアと小アジアを旅し、イシス信仰に傾倒する。しばらくローマで修辞学の教師、弁護士として働いたのち、アフリカに帰り、年上の裕福な寡婦プデンティッラと結婚。この結婚をめぐり、妻の親族から、魔術を用いてプデンティッラを誘惑したとして訴えられたが、得意の弁舌で反論し無罪となる。カルタゴで名をなし、皇帝礼拝の祭司として余生を送る。作品には、青年ルキウスがロバに変身し、さまざまな体験をしたのち女神イシスの力で人間に戻るまでを描いた伝奇小説『変身物語』（または『黄金のロバ』）、結婚をめぐって訴えられたときの反論『弁明』、アプレイウスの名句を集めた『フロリダ』、そのほか『ソクラテスの神』『プラトンとその教え』『世界について』が残っている。その文体は華やかで、古典的な表現と俗語が入り混じっている。作品は当時の人々に広く受け入れられた。

［土岐正策］

『呉茂一・国原吉之助訳『黄金のろば』全2冊（岩波文庫）』

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