Satyricon 11 – Scene VIIa: Dinner with Trimalchio – First Course

Here we go with an iconic bit of ancient Roman literature, the dinner with Trimalchio scene. It is most complete section of the original novel and many people who have done an upper level Latin class have had to translate it. Meant as a satire of wealthy freedmen, Petronius’ Trimalchio episode uses absurd extravagance to mock the nouveau riche of Nero’s Rome. Fellini’s take is a bit less satirical and more universal in its treatment of luxury, while keeping with his theme about the unknowable...