Apuleius was born in
Madauros, a
colonia in
Numidia on the
North African coast bordering
Gaetulia, and he described himself as "
half-Numidian half-Gaetulian." Madauros, in whose
university Augustine of Hippo later received his early education, was located well away from the
Romanized coast, but nonetheless contains some pristine Roman ruins. Apuleius's
praenomen is not given in any ancient source; late-medieval manuscripts began the tradition of calling him
Lucius after the hero of his novel. Details regarding his life come mostly from his defense speech (
Apology) and his work
Florida, a collection of excerpts from some of his best speeches. Upon the death of their father, a
duumvir, or municipal magistrate, Apuleius studied with a master at
Carthage, where he later settled. After his initial stay in Carthage he moved on to
Athens, studying Platonist philosophy among other subjects, and then to
Rome to study Latin
rhetoric and, most likely, to speak in the law courts for a time before returning to his native North Africa. He also travelled extensively in Asia Minor and Egypt, furthering his knowledge of philosophy and religion but also depleting his inheritance. Apuleius was an initiate in several
Greco-Roman mysteries, including the
Dionysian Mysteries. He was a priest of
Asclepius and, according to Augustine,
sacerdos provinciae Africae (i.e., priest of the province of Carthage). Not long after his return home he set out upon a new journey to
Alexandria. On his way there he was taken ill at the town of
Oea (modern-day
Tripoli) and was hospitably received into the house of Sicinius Pontianus, whom he had befriended in Athens. Pontianus's father-in-law, Herennius Rufinus, was indignant that Pudentilla's wealth should pass out of the family; he instigated Pontianus, Pontianus's younger brother Sicinius Pudens, a mere boy, and their paternal uncle, Sicinius Aemilianus, to join him in impeaching Apuleius upon the charge of gaining Pudentilla's affections by charms and magic spells. The case was heard at
Sabratha, near Tripoli, c. 158 AD, before
Claudius Maximus,
proconsul of
Africa. The accusation itself seems to have been ridiculous, and the spirited and triumphant defence spoken by Apuleius is still extant. This is known as the
Apologia (A Discourse on Magic). Of his subsequent career, we know little. Judging from the many works of which he was author, he must have devoted himself diligently to literature. He occasionally gave speeches in public to great reception; he had the charge of exhibiting gladiatorial shows and wild beast events in the province, and statues were erected in his honour by the senate of Carthage and of other senates. The date, place and circumstances of Apuleius' death are not known. There is no record of his activities after 170, a fact which has led some people to believe that he must have died about then (say in 171), although other scholars feel that he may still have been alive in 180 or even 190. == Works ==