The Satyricon — Volume 07: Marchena Notes

A bold slice of ancient Rome bursts onto the scene, offering the rib‑tickling, provocation‑laden voice of a world where gods and mortals collide in scandalous escapades. Discovered amid the spoils of a Napoleonic campaign, this fragment of Petronius’ notorious satire has been painstakingly restored and rendered into a smooth, listener‑friendly translation that captures the original’s wit and erotic flair without losing its edge.

Beyond the lively storytelling, the edition is enriched with scholarly commentary that explains the manuscript’s tangled history, separates genuine lines from later forgeries, and clarifies the mythological and cultural references that pepper the narrative. Listeners will enjoy a vivid portrait of hedonistic feasts, mischievous priests, and daring lovers, all set against a backdrop of Roman attitudes toward passion and power, making the ancient text feel surprisingly immediate and engaging.