Petronius Satire

A modern historian may use Petronius’ satire as evidence of actual practices at dinner parties if the historian understands the intricacies and exaggerations of Roman satire. Petronius’ satire, The Satyricon, was the first in a new line of literature, it utilised the common techniques and idiosyncrasies of Roman satire however, also introduced an element of realism never before seen, offering societal critiques on commonplace practices. Modern historians examining ancient roman practices and etiquette have gained quite a lot of information from studying roman literature. Roman literature like all literature since carry substantial amount of contextual explanation, which can allow for a modern historian to examine in detail to find the truth
about roman life. Modern historian’s need to have an understanding of what is a realistic commentary or a hyperbolic interpretation for the sake of satire. The Satyricon describes the etiquette, food, service, venue, entertainment, and dinner party’s general importance in verbose detail.

A modern historian if equipped with the right knowledge and understanding could gain significant understanding of dinner parties from the Dinner with Trimalchio passage within the Satyricon. The contemporary study of Roman life especially regarding social events such as dinner parties can be difficult due to its mundane nature, they can be little documentation. However, if a historian were to utilise the works of an author such as Petronius who was arguably concerned with realism in his writing, a historian could read between the hyperbole to find the factual descriptions and social undertones. Modern Historiography primarily utilises the accounts from historians such as Livy, Suetonius, and, Tacitus in order to comprehend life in Ancient Rome. However, many other forms of source can be used to a similar extent such as creative works of literature, as well as papyrus or other writing implements which detailed the towns or personal records, coins, and tombs were also used to a significant extent to understand the society of the time. Satire in Ancient Rome was a flourishing genre, but the Satyricon seems to straddle several different genres. “Dinner with a boorish host is perhaps the clearest overlap with the themes of traditional Roman verse satire” (N. Slater, 2013, 24). Roman verse satire was written in the same form as epics, which Petronius is known to make reference to, and “exploit unconventionally… from which he draws material to boost the melodramatic dimension of Encolpius’s life” (C. Panayotakis, 2013, 48). A modern historian has the tools and understanding required decipher the satiric from the fact, and gain a grounded understanding of roman dinner parties.

To fully understand the practices portrayed in Petronius’ satire, The Satyricon, there is a great deal of contextual and historical information to consider.
Petronius was courtier and literary poet of the 1st century A.D, under the reign of Emperor Nero. Emperor Nero succeed the throne from his great-uncle Claudius in 54 A.D. after his death by dubious circumstances. Nero ascended the throne at at seventeen, mentally ill-equipped for the mountainous job ahead. Nero was a great lover of the arts, engaging in music, and dancing, as well as athletics himself and Petronius was “one who made luxury a fine art” (J. Sullivan, 1977, 9). Nero saw promise in Petronius and he soon appointed the courtier to be the Empire’s “Arbiter of Elegance” (J. Sullivan, 1977, 9). Petronius concerned himself with many different genres and styles of writing, which can be easily identifiable from a glance at the style and subject matter of the Satyricon. The Satyricon is Petronius’ most renowned work, the story follows the adventures of the hero and protagonist, Encolpius. The Satyricon has been sectioned into books, only certain books have remained, and it is unknown whether any of the books are truly complete. The setting, and plot of each book is varies immensely, as does the writing style, and Encolpius’ impact on the physical progression of the plot (J, Sullivn, 1977, 9). Book 8 of Petronius’ Satyricon, is called ‘Dinner with Trimalchio’ and describes an extravagant dinner party with the
exorbitant Trimalchio as a host, “Food, entertainment, and fellow guests alike astonish and appall our narrator” (N. Slater, 2013, 23) . The Satyricon is described as “an elaborate satire on the basis of Epicurean morality against the violent and frustrating passions of greed, sex, anger”, the different books of the Satyricon satirises different aspects of roman culture and society. Dinner with Trimalchio satirises the extravagance of Roman culture, and the morals of dinner parties. Subjects on which historians could gain valuable and credible information upon thorough examination of Petronius’ satire.

The Dinner party described in ‘Dinner with Trimalchio’ covers many areas that could be useful to historians studying the practises at Roman Dinner parties.
Some of the areas described in this book, include the food, service, venue, entertainment and extravagance, social etiquette, and the overall importance of Dinner parties in Ancient Rome. The dishes served at the party are outrageously extravagant as is the theme throughout the dinner, a large boar is served, and a boy “made a great stab at the boar’s side and as he struck, out flew a flock of thrushes” (Petronius Arbiter in Sullivan, 1977, 55). This allows for historians to understand the type of foods available to the Roman elite, in combination with other sources a historian could infer, the type of foods commonly available to the Roman people. The service personal at the party are very frequently defined, they are often served by “boys from Alexandria” (48) and are a combination of slaves, and servants. The serving staff often double as the entertainment, “Four dancers huddled forward in time to the music and removed the upper part of the great dish” (Petronius Arbiter in Sullivan, 1977, 51). The entertainment is incredibly diverse and ranges from a live orchestra, singers, and even, at one point in the meal, acrobats. The venue of this dinner party is lavishly decorated, “A golden cage from which a spotted magpie greeted visitors” (Petronius Arbiter in Sullivan, 1977, 46), as well as a “terribly elegant” (Petronius
Arbiter in Sullivan, 45) dinning hall and a “trumpeter telling him how long he has to live” (Petronius Arbiter in Sullivan, 1977, 45). This would allow a historian to understand what level of décor was considered lavish at the period and what seemed more mundane. The social etiquette at the dinner table is highly juxtaposed from the environment and grandeur. The party is riddled with faux pas the guests and Trimalchio all engaging in inappropriate talk of sex and were “swearing away like a trooper” (Petronius Arbiter in Sullivan, 1977, 49) Even at one point Trimalchio returns from the bathroom to announce that he is having digestive trouble and that “[t]he doctor forbids you to hold yourself in” (Petronius Arbiter in Sullivan, 1977, 61), and therefore invites the group to pass flatulence freely around the table if need be. The most satirized component of the book, is the dinner party itself, and it’s importance in Roman society. Trimalchio uses the gathering to propagate his own wealth and importance, sparing no expense at any part of the evening. He even utilises the time with his guest to make jokes, and highlight his social standing, even exclaiming, “[w]hat’s a poor man?” (Petronius Arbiter in Sullivan, 1977, 61) when the discussion moved to the poor. This passage has proven to be incredibly useful if one examines the contextual information despite the heavy implied satirical extravagance.

The detail provided by Petronius is extensive and provide modern historians with a great deal of information on the subject of dinner parties. However, the true challenge lies within, understanding the difference between hyperbolic satire, and realist accuracy. It mentions within the Satyricon itself that the gathering “was more like a musical comedy than a respectable dinner party” (Petronius Arbiter in Sullivan, 1997, 48). While, the party is incredibly flamboyant and extravagant, it is also depict in a comical way the illusive elite dinner parties of a Roman-esque world. A dinner party in reality would never compare to the extravagance. However, the basic principles of the extravagance are valid, for example, there would have been live entertainment, and a multitude of serving staff. When examining the Satyricon “the words "satire" and "satirical" turn up constantly” (J. Sullivan, 1967, 75) and it’s understood that Petronius engaged directly with the aforementioned Roman verse from of satire. The relevance of the entire text is then thrown into question. It is Petronius’ focus on realism that makes his work accessible to modern historians. Within the Satyricon Petronius’ “treatment is intensely realistic… we have a true picture of a certain class” (F. Abbott, 1899, 440). While this certain upper echelon is explored in great detail, like most authors Petronius “gives us a one-sided view of contemporaneous society” (F. Abbott, 1899, 440). Therefore, overall “[t]he Satyricon can be read for insight into the age that produced it” (N. Slater, 2014, 30). However, it must be examined carefully by those who have a broader understand of Rome and high society in the early first century A.D.

A Modern historian, if equipped with the correct contextual information can receive a great deal of relevant and highly accurate information regard practices and dinner parties in ancient Rome upon examination of Petronius’ satire. Petronious’ The Satyricon, was a triumph of satire and realism, which created a new blend of genres never before seen in European society. This blend allows for a historian to understand not only the realistic details of roman events and social gatherings such as dinner parties, but also to understand what societal customs were being questioned and satirised in that era. The Satyricon can offer valuable information to modern historians, through the copious detail of Petronius’ writing, in regards to the practises of upper-class dinner parties.