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Gellius the Satirist
Roman Cultural Authority in Attic Nights
Series: - Mnemosyne, Supplements, Volume: 297
Author:
This monograph presents an original portrait of the second-century miscellanist Aulus Gellius, based on a detailed reading of
Attic Nights against its contemporary background. Highlighting Gellius’ use of humour and irony in his portrayals of controversial celebrities such as Favorinus and Herodes Atticus, the book provides a necessary corrective to interpretations of Gellius as an uncritical philhellene or an apolitical bookworm. Distinguishing Gellius’ various literary personae (the youthful sectator, the independent researcher, the mature writer and adviser), the book uncovers the many-layered sophistication of Gellius’ self-presentation. Noting previously unrecognised allusions to literary works and contemporary events, it offers a fresh perspective on Gellius as a satirical writer, whose Roman cultural programme reflects the ambiguities and complexities of Antonine intellectual life.
Wytse H. Keulen, Ph.D. (2003) in Classics, University of Groningen. His commentary on Apuleius’
Metamorphoses Book I appeared in 2007 (
Groningen Commentaries on Apuleius); he is co-editor of
The Ancient Novel and Beyond (Brill, 2003).
All those interested in Latin imperial literature, the Second Sophistic, Roman education, the Roman intellectual, Roman satire, cultural studies, cultural identity, as well as classical philologists and ancient historians.