08-10-2009, 12:14 AM
It could also be that the soldier just took it upon himself to confiscate the sword. There are lots of other stories of soldiers going beyond their authority and using force against civilians. Or, the soldier decided that Encolpius was looking for trouble, and was therefore carrying the sword for an illegal purpose.
The scene where Encolpius runs around with his sword belted on and a fiery look in his eyes is at Puteoli (ch. 82). I noticed a few other references to weapons in the Satryicon while I was finding it. At Trimalchio's dinner, one of the guests (Niceros, the one with the werewolf story) talks about travelling to a villa near Rome with a sword. He was a slave at the time and was travelling with a soldier. So Petronius felt it was plausible that a slave travelling in Italy would carry a sword. A bit later we hear about slaves at country villas using a spear against a wolf and a sword against a witch.
The scene where Encolpius runs around with his sword belted on and a fiery look in his eyes is at Puteoli (ch. 82). I noticed a few other references to weapons in the Satryicon while I was finding it. At Trimalchio's dinner, one of the guests (Niceros, the one with the werewolf story) talks about travelling to a villa near Rome with a sword. He was a slave at the time and was travelling with a soldier. So Petronius felt it was plausible that a slave travelling in Italy would carry a sword. A bit later we hear about slaves at country villas using a spear against a wolf and a sword against a witch.
Nullis in verba
I have not checked this forum frequently since 2013, but I hope that these old posts have some value. I now have a blog on books, swords, and the curious things humans do with them.
I have not checked this forum frequently since 2013, but I hope that these old posts have some value. I now have a blog on books, swords, and the curious things humans do with them.
