Cena Trimalchionis 01 Initium (Patreon)

Index of all recordings

Cēna Trimalchiōnis is perhaps the most famous part of the Satyricon by Petronius, who wrote this ancient novel in the 1st century AD. While only parts of the Satyricon survive, chapters 26-78 of book XV, which has been preserved nearly in its entirety, show us the famous Dinner of Trimalchio, regarded as emblematic of Menippean satire. In his insightful depiction of everyday Roman life, Petronius delights in exposing the vulgarity and pretentiousness of the illiterate and ostentatious wealthy of his age.

The text can be found on Amazon here.