Humour and characterization in the Saturnalia

Abstract This appendix examines the role of humour in the depiction of Macrobius’ interlocutors. At several points in the Saturnalia, Macrobius’ descriptions of his characters take on aspects of playfulness. This appendix documents these moments, both the well-known uses of irony as well as new instances of ludic play. It focuses on the humorous portrayal of three characters, Eustathius, Servius, and Praetextatus, and offers a brief comparison of the strategies Macrobius uses to undercut the seriousness of each diner. Together, the exchanges catalogued in this appendix challenge a prevailing belief in the scholarship that the Saturnalia only reports, and does not make direct use of, humour in its dialogue.