The Tour · Chapter
Chapter XII explained
Tamyris, a famed hetaira, persistently pursues Lucius, offering herself as his slave and lover.
What happens
Tamyris, a famed hetaira, persistently pursues Lucius, offering herself as his slave and lover. Despite her dramatic declarations and threats of haunting, Lucius rejects her advances and orders her removed. That night, however, he visits her but returns disillusioned.
Themes in this chapter
Love and Desire
Tamyris's obsessive and unrequited desire for Lucius drives the chapter, culminating in his disillusionment.
Deception and Survival
Tamyris uses deception and bribery to gain access to Lucius, while Caleb's greed aids her scheme.
Characters to notice
- Publius Lucius Sabinus
Lucius is visited by Tamyris, rejects her advances, but later visits her out of curiosity, only to be disappointed.
- Tamyris
The famous hetaira who professes her love for Lucius, offers herself as his slave, and threatens to haunt him after death.
- Caleb
Caleb facilitates Tamyris's entry to Lucius for bribes, then listens at the door.
- Tarrar
Tarrar guards Lucius's door but is unable to prevent Tamyris from entering.
Key passages
“I am Tamyris. I am famed for my beauty; and I have kept kings waiting on the threshold of my villa on Lake Mareotis merely out of caprice.”
Tamyris introduces herself as a celebrated beauty who has made kings wait at her door on a whim.
Tamyris boasts of her power and allure to impress Lucius.
“Lucius, if you will love me, I shall be your slave and reveal the secret of Adonis to you.”
Tamyris offers to become Lucius's slave and share the ultimate pleasure taught by Aphrodite.
She uses the myth of Adonis to promise an unparalleled erotic experience.
“But, when I am dead, O Lucius, burnt out with love, I shall haunt you and my ghost will twine around you, without your being able to prevent it, and I shall suck your soul from your lips… until I have you inside me… inside me.”
Tamyris threatens that after her death from unrequited love, her ghost will possess Lucius and consume his soul.
Her threat blends erotic obsession with supernatural vengeance.