Cena Trimalchionis

Cena Trimalchionis is a famous fragment from Petronius' larger work, the Satyricon, which offers a satirical and realistic portrayal of Roman society in the 1st century AD. The scene centers on an extravagant banquet hosted by Trimalchio, a nouveau riche freedman, showcasing his ostentatious wealth and vulgar behavior.

Through detailed dialogue and vivid characterization, Petronius critiques social pretensions and the excesses of the newly rich, contrasting them with traditional Roman aristocratic values.

The work is notable for its mixture of prose and verse, its colloquial Latin, and its insight into everyday Roman life.