The Satyricon — Volume 03: Encolpius and His Companions

In this raucous episode of ancient Rome's most infamous misadventures, the roving band of Encolpius, Giton, and Ascyltos stagger through a pitch‑black night, drunk and hopelessly lost in a labyrinthine slum. Giton, quick‑thinking, has marked the surrounding columns with chalk, turning the darkness into a breadcrumb trail that guides the group to a bustling tavern where the innkeeper swallows her wine as if it were water. Their arrival is punctuated by a sudden break‑in of a courier’s wagons, granting forced entry and a brief respite after the chaos.

Inside, the companions' revelry quickly derails into a tangled web of desire, betrayal, and petty violence as Ascyltos steals the sleeping Giton, prompting Encolpius to confront his friend with sword and scorn. The dispute escalates into a threatened duel, while a terrified youth pleads for mercy, forcing the trio to grapple with the fragile code of friendship that binds them. Throughout, Petronius blends bawdy comedy with razor‑sharp social satire, offering listeners a vivid, unfiltered glimpse into the decadence and absurdity of a world where excess is the only constant.