The Tour · Chapter
III explained
Lucius arrives in Alexandria with his uncle Catullus and tutor Thrasyllus.
What happens
Lucius arrives in Alexandria with his uncle Catullus and tutor Thrasyllus. He is met by his steward Vettius and the Sabaean innkeeper Ghizla, who arranges luxurious lodgings. Despite the city's splendor, Lucius is consumed by grief over the disappearance of his beloved slave Ilia. The group tours the city, visiting the Museum and the Soma, guided by Ghizla's younger brother Caleb, a flamboyant and talkative young man.
Themes in this chapter
Grief and Healing
Lucius is overwhelmed by grief over Ilia's disappearance, struggling to find solace even in the wonders of Alexandria.
Travel and Discovery
The chapter details the arrival in Alexandria and the initial exploration of the city's landmarks, including the Museum and the Soma.
Class and Hierarchy
The contrast between the wealthy Roman nobles and the poor scholars of the Museum highlights social stratification.
Characters to notice
- Publius Lucius Sabinus
The protagonist, a wealthy Roman nobleman, arrives in Alexandria grieving the loss of his slave Ilia.
- Catullus
Lucius's uncle, a jovial and portly man who accompanies him to Alexandria.
- Thrasyllus
Lucius's tutor, knowledgeable about Egypt from the writings of Eratosthenes and Strabo.
- Vettius
Lucius's steward who traveled ahead to secure lodgings in Alexandria.
- Master Ghizla
A Sabaean innkeeper who arranges luxurious suites for Lucius and his party.
- Caleb
Ghizla's younger brother, a vivacious guide who leads the group through Alexandria on horseback.
Key passages
“the mad orgies of the young Romans of his own rank and had soon devoted himself to many branches of science, to astronomy in particular, philosophy, magic, the favourite passion of that period; he amused himself with modelling and sculpture; as a collector, he loved everything that was beautiful: pictures and statues, old coins and old glass; and his Etruscan antiquities were famous all over Rome.”
Lucius had briefly indulged in the wild parties of his peers but quickly turned to scholarly pursuits like astronomy, philosophy, and magic, as well as collecting art and antiquities.
Describes Lucius's intellectual and aesthetic interests, contrasting with his earlier hedonism.
“But his grief and longing returned to him immediately after; red anger awoke in him once more and impotent fury that Ilia, his best-beloved slave, had vanished, one inauspicious morning, from his villa at Baiae, without leaving a trace behind her.”
Despite the distractions of Alexandria, Lucius's sorrow and rage over Ilia's mysterious disappearance from his villa in Baiae quickly resurfaced.
Highlights Lucius's persistent emotional turmoil.
“The Museum has produced great scholars, such as Euclid, Erasistratus and Diophantus; then there were the poets Theocritus, Aratus, Callimachus; and among critics Aristarchus; and among philosophers more than I could name.”
Thrasyllus lists notable scholars and poets associated with the Museum, including Euclid, Erasistratus, and Theocritus.
Provides historical context for the Museum's intellectual legacy.