The Comparison To The Underworld
Many pieces of literature contain many similar characteristics to Greek and Roman mythology as these references illustrate a certain idea or image for the reader. Many authors in the past would draw these comparisons to invoke a deeper meaning to their writing. The Underworld of Roman mythology is the kingdom of Pluto and is where Romans believed the dead went to in afterlife. For one, the house of Trimalchio as well as the contents in it, are directly related to the Underworld are described in a way that mirror the Underworld of Roman mythology. While the the dog can be related to Cerberus from that mythology and the actions of the guests in the bath mirror the punishments in Tartarus. Therefore in Petronius’s …show more content…
In the house, there is only one entrance and one separate exit as the Steward tells the narrator, Encolpius and his friends “nemo umquam convivarum per eandem ianuam emissus est; alia intrant, alia exeunt” (16-18). No guests are allowed to exit the same way they entered. This clearly can be related to the Underworld with the dead entering from the ground one way by Mercury (then being ferried across the river Styx by Charon), and only being able to exit if they bathe in the River Lethe (in order to be reincarnated into another life, souls must bathe forget former selves). Another glaring similarity to the Underworld is the picture of the dog. In Trimalchio’s house, the narrator and his friends were going to be led to the door and leave when “ubi canis catenarius nos magno tumultu excepit et Ascyltos perterritus in piscinam cecidit. Ego quoque ebrius, qui etiam pictum timueram canem, dum natanti auxilium fero, in eandem piscinam tractus sum” (10-12). They reached the door when a dog ferociously barked at them and Adcyltos fell into the pond. It was actually a picture of the dog and they were so afraid of it, that when Encolpius tried to give help, he was dragged into the fishpond as well. This draws to mind the dog Cerberus from mythology. Cerberus was the 3-headed monster dog that guarded the entrance of the Underworld for Hades. It was his job to let the dead enter, but to prevent any from escaping or the living from entering the gates. This was the same job of the picture of the dog for the narrator did not notice the picture when he entered the house, but when they tried to escape, the picture suddenly became ferocious and frightened the group. In a way, the picture of the dog guarded the house, allowing guests to enter, but preventing them from leaving without permission. Lastly, the actions of the other guests in the bath have a glaring similarity
Many pieces of literature contain many similar characteristics to Greek and Roman mythology as these references illustrate a certain idea or image for the reader. Many authors in the past would draw these comparisons to invoke a deeper meaning to their writing. The Underworld of Roman mythology is the kingdom of Pluto and is where Romans believed the dead went to in afterlife. For one, the house of Trimalchio as well as the contents in it, are directly related to the Underworld are described in a way that mirror the Underworld of Roman mythology. While the the dog can be related to Cerberus from that mythology and the actions of the guests in the bath mirror the punishments in Tartarus. Therefore in Petronius’s …show more content…
In the house, there is only one entrance and one separate exit as the Steward tells the narrator, Encolpius and his friends “nemo umquam convivarum per eandem ianuam emissus est; alia intrant, alia exeunt” (16-18). No guests are allowed to exit the same way they entered. This clearly can be related to the Underworld with the dead entering from the ground one way by Mercury (then being ferried across the river Styx by Charon), and only being able to exit if they bathe in the River Lethe (in order to be reincarnated into another life, souls must bathe forget former selves). Another glaring similarity to the Underworld is the picture of the dog. In Trimalchio’s house, the narrator and his friends were going to be led to the door and leave when “ubi canis catenarius nos magno tumultu excepit et Ascyltos perterritus in piscinam cecidit. Ego quoque ebrius, qui etiam pictum timueram canem, dum natanti auxilium fero, in eandem piscinam tractus sum” (10-12). They reached the door when a dog ferociously barked at them and Adcyltos fell into the pond. It was actually a picture of the dog and they were so afraid of it, that when Encolpius tried to give help, he was dragged into the fishpond as well. This draws to mind the dog Cerberus from mythology. Cerberus was the 3-headed monster dog that guarded the entrance of the Underworld for Hades. It was his job to let the dead enter, but to prevent any from escaping or the living from entering the gates. This was the same job of the picture of the dog for the narrator did not notice the picture when he entered the house, but when they tried to escape, the picture suddenly became ferocious and frightened the group. In a way, the picture of the dog guarded the house, allowing guests to enter, but preventing them from leaving without permission. Lastly, the actions of the other guests in the bath have a glaring similarity