Apuleius was born in Madaura, the present-day city of Mdaourouch in Algeria, in approximately 125 CE. Although coming from a Roman colony, Apuleius did not identify as a Roman citizen, preferring to regard himself as part-Numidian and part-Gaetulian (in reference to the location of Madaura between Numidia and Gaetulia). His family was prosperous enough to provide him with an excellent education that included schooling in Carthage, Athens and possibly Rome.

The extant works of Apuleius include the Metamorphoses or The Golden Ass, a novel in 11 books; the Apology, the published version of a self-defence speech originally delivered in court in CE 158; the Florida, 23 oratorical pieces; and the

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First published 21 April 2009

Citation: Johnson, Marguerite. "Apuleius". The Literary Encyclopedia. 21 April 2009.
[http://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=134, accessed 21 November 2009.]