Narrative in the Metamorphoses

Week 9: narrative in the Metamorphoses

‘Aristides’, author of lost Milesian Tales (Milesiaka).
Date: perhaps c. 100 BC? (Or earlier: Hägg.)
Question of ‘sources’ is unanswerable; perhaps cf. Artemidorus’ Oneirokritika? (last week’s lecture).
Not to be confused with P. Aelius Aristides (Hieroi Logoi mentioned in last week’s lecture).
Latin translation in early C1 BC by L. Cornelius Sisenna, a Roman historian (predecessor of Sallust) and orator (Verres’ defence lawyer).
Shocking the Parthians: Milesiaka at Carrhae: Plutarch, Life of Crassus 32.4-6.
A single fragment of Aristides’ Greek original survives.
‘Milesian tales’ defined by references in other texts: e.g. Ovid, Tristia 2.443-4.
Apuleius, Met. 1.1.1 (‘sermone isto Milesio’): “stitching together” and possible implications for Aristides’ structure (framing narrative?). Cf. 4.32.6
Ps.-Lucian, Amores 1: Aristides as internal audience? Cf. narrative frames (esp. openings) of ‘ideal’ Greek novels: Longus, Achilles Tatius.

Extra-marital sex. (Bowersock (1994) 124: “lost lubricities”.)
Death, sorcery and the uncanny: cf. ghost stories in Phlegon of Tralles, Book of Marvels.

Ps.-Lucian, Onos (NB similarities of story to Apuleius’). One (sophisticated) Milesian tale containing others?
Petronius’ ‘Widow of Ephesus’ (Satyricon 111-12).
Petronius’ ‘Pergamene Boy’ (ibid. 85-7).
Longus: one long Milesian tale? (sex, magic)
Possible structural comparator: ekphrasis.

Best known episode: Cupid and Psyche.
Who narrates? (Quis ille?)
Milesian … or Platonic? Cf. utopian narratives and allegories in (e.g.) Republic and (esp.) Symposium.
Apuleius as excerptor and “stitcher together”: Florida
Apuleius as Milesian fabulist(?) / erotic educator: Eroticus (probably cf. ps.Lucian Amores).
Apuleius, Metamorphoses: one very long Milesian tale? A meta-Milesian tale?