Despite the growing interest in Apuleius’ Apologia or Pro se de magia, a speech he delivered in AD 158/159 to defend himself against the charge of being a magus, the only comprehensive study on this speech and magic to date is that by Adam Abt (1908). The aim of this volume is to shed new light on the extent to which Apuleius’ speech reveals his own knowledge of magic, and on the implications of the dangerous allegations brought against Apuleius. By analysing the Apologia sequentially, the author does not only reassess Abt’s analysis but proposes a new reconstruction of the prosecution’s case, arguing that it is heavily distorted by Apuleius. Since ancient magic is the main topic of this speech, an extensive discussion of the topic is provided, offering a new semantic taxonomy of magus and its cognates. Finally, this volume also explores Apuleius’ forensic techniques and the Platonic ideology underpinning his speech. It is proposed that a Platonising reasoning – distinguishing between higher and lower concepts – lies at the core of Apuleius’ rhetorical strategy, and that Apuleius aims to charm the judge, the audience and, ultimately, his readers with the irresistible power of his arguments.

This book focuses on the Apologia, a speech delivered by the Latin rhetorician Apuleius of Madauros in AD 158/159 to defend himself against the charge of being a magician. The aim of this study is to throw light on various features of the Apologia:

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1914 edition. Excerpt: ...81, and more especially Phaedo 76. 18. etsi pereleganter is Kriiger's emendation oi et semper eleganter . He further reads reliqidt (cod. Toi.); though the tense of relinquat is a little awkward, the sense is clear, and reliquit is a little violent as a remedy. The alternative is to read ut semper with codd. Urb. and Toi. This reading is adopted by Helm, who quotes (Pref. to Florida, p. xxiii) Cic. Brut. 22. 86 causant pro ptiblicanis accurate, ut semper solitus esset, eleganterque dixisse Laelium. But though Apuleius might well have said ' Wherefore I would have you hear what Afranius says', the phrase 'Wherefore let Afranius with his usual elegance leave this apophthegm on record ' is almost impossibly harsh. Reading etsi pereleganter the sense is excellent, ' Although Afranius' words are singularly apt, they yet require slight modification to bring them into line with the Platonic doctrine of avap.ir a-ts.' 19. Afranius. The most famous writer of purely Roman comedy (togatae); floruit circ. Ilo B.C. amabit sapiens, cupient ceteri. See v. 221, Sc. Rom. poes. fragm. (Ribbeck ii, p. 228); Non. 421. 19; Serv. Aen. iv. 194. Cp. also Afranius (Ribbeck, op. cit., p. 198, v. 24) alius est Amor, alius Cupido. 20. si uerum uelis. Cp. 52 immo enim si uelis; SSt'mmo s uerum uelis; 98 si per uerum uelis (but see note ad loc.). CHAPTER 13 2. contra sententiam Neoptolemi Enniani pluribus philosophari. Cp. Cic. de Or. ii. 156 ac sic decreui philosophari potiits ut Neoptolemus apud Ennium 'paucis; nam omnino haud placet '; de Rep. i. 18. 30; Tuse. ii. i. i; Gell. v. 15 and 16. Ribbeck restores the whole line philosophari mihinecessepaucis, nam omnino haut...

Includes, in the original Latin: Apologia (A Discourse on Magic). Apuleius' courtroom defense. The work is a stylish defence against his opponents, with little reference to magic. Florida. A compilation of twenty-three extracts from his various speeches and lectures. De Dogmate Platonis (On Plato and his Doctrine). An outline in two books of PlIncludes, in the original Latin: Apologia: A Discourse on Magic. Apuleius' courtroom defense. T De Deo Socratis (On the God of Socrates). A work on the existence and nature of daemons, the intermediaries between gods and humans. De Dogmate Platonis (On Plato and his Doctrine). An outline in two books of Plato's physics and ethics, preceded by a life of Plato Florida. A compilation of twenty-three extracts from his various speeches and lectures. De Mundo. This Latin translation is probably by Apuleius.ato's physics and ethics, preceded by a life of Plato De Deo Socratis (On the God of Socrates). A work on the existence and nature of daemons, the intermediaries between gods and humans. On the Universe. This Latin translation of the work De Mundo is probably by Apuleius.

Original and comprehensive, Magic in the Ancient Greek World takes the reader inside both the social imagination and the ritual reality that made magic possible in ancient Greece. Explores the widespread use of spells, drugs, curse tablets, and figurines, and the practitioners of magic in the ancient world Uncovers how magic worked. Was it down to mere superstition? Did the subject need to believe in order for it to have an effect? Focuses on detailed case studies of individual types of magic Examines the central role of magic in Greek life

The Latin text of Apuleius' defense of himself against a charge of magic, with an extensive historical and linguistic commentary.