# XXXVI explained — The Golden Ass

> Chapter companion for The Golden Ass by Apuleius.

## What happens

Lucius, still in ass form, is sold to the priests of the Syrian goddess, led by Philebus. He witnesses their fraudulent and debauched practices, including self-flagellation, extortion, and sexual abuse. When Lucius brays in protest, he nearly exposes them, but they escape and later plot to kill him. A cook's wife suggests killing Lucius to cover up a stolen venison, but the chapter ends with Lucius being sold again.

## Themes in this chapter

### Deception and Appearance

The priests of the Syrian goddess feign divine frenzy and prophecy to extort offerings, while secretly engaging in theft and debauchery.

### Violence and Cruelty

The priests whip themselves bloody, threaten to kill Lucius, and abuse a young man; the cook plans to murder Lucius to avoid punishment.

### Religion and Redemption

The perversion of religious practice is highlighted, contrasting with the later genuine redemption through Isis.

## Character check-ins

### Lucius

Narrator and protagonist, still in ass form, suffering under the cruel priests.

### Philebus

The old bald priest who buys Lucius and leads the band of Syrian goddess worshippers.

### Isis

Referenced as the goddess Syria, whose image is carried by Lucius.

## Key lines

> When I beheld this horrible fact, I could not but attempt to utter my mind and say, Oh masters, but I could pronounce no more but the first letter oh, which I roared out so valiantly

Seeing the sexual abuse, Lucius tries to speak but can only bray loudly.

_Lucius's impotent rage as an ass._

> Then the cook hearing the counsel of his wife, was well pleased to slay me to save himself: and so he went to the whetstone, to sharp his tools accordingly.

The cook, to avoid blame for a lost venison, decides to kill Lucius and pass off his flesh as the deer.

_Lucius's life is again threatened by human greed._

> Marry (quoth he) in Cappadocia: Then he inquired what age I was of, the crier answered as a mathematician, which disposed to me my planets, that I was five years old

The crier jokingly claims Lucius is five years old based on astrological calculation.

_Mockery of both Lucius and astrological claims._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_golden_ass_se/chapters/xxxvi
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_golden_ass_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_golden_ass_se/chapters