Apologia, Apuleius' own defense speech from his 158 CE trial on a charge of using magic to secure marriage, is a key primary source on how Roman society understood and prosecuted accusations of magic. Its strength is that it is the defendant's own words, delivered in the actual proceeding. Its limit is that it is a defense speech aimed at acquittal, shaped rhetorically to persuade a court, not a disinterested account of Roman magical practice.
Facts
Assessment
Reliability Tier1
Apuleius' Apologia, his own defense speech from his 158 CE trial, the top tier reflecting the defendant's own words, delivered in the actual proceeding, a key primary source on how Roman society understood and prosecuted accusations of magic. Its limit is that it is a defense speech aimed at acquittal, shaped rhetorically to persuade a court, not a disinterested account of Roman magical practice. NotesHis own defense speech at his trial for using magic to secure marriage, a key primary source on Roman perceptions of magic.
Citation
AuthorApuleius
Publication Year158
Source TypeBook (primary)
Claims Backed By This Source (9 claims)
This source backs 9 claims across the atlas. As facts: 8 well-attested. Plus 1 entities citing it as a general reference with no single fact or relationship attached.
Disposition By Topic
- Sources, 6 claims: 6 well-attested.
- Historical Figures, 2 claims: 1 well-attested, 1 general references.
- Articles, 1 claims: 1 well-attested.
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