The Monstrefact: The Werewolf, Part 4 - Ancient Moon

The Satyricon, written in Latin, is a Menippean satire that combines prose and verse to depict the lives of three young men—Encolpius, Ascyltos, and Giton—as they engage in various outlandish and often perverse adventures in southern Italy during the mid-1st century AD. The novel is renowned for its vivid portrayal of everyday Roman life, exposing the vulgarity and pretentiousness of the wealthy. It includes the famous 'Cena Trimalchionis' (Dinner of Trimalchio), which satirizes the excesses and pretensions of the Roman elite. The work is considered one of the gems of Western literature and a precursor to the modern novel form.

The Epic of Gilgamesh tells the story of Gilgamesh, the king of Uruk, who is two-thirds god and one-third human. The gods create Enkidu, a wild man, to counterbalance Gilgamesh's oppressive rule. Enkidu and Gilgamesh become friends after a trial of strength and embark on several adventures, including the slaying of the monster Humbaba and the killing of the Bull of Heaven. Following Enkidu's death, Gilgamesh sets out on a perilous journey to find Utnapishtim, the survivor of the Babylonian Flood, in search of the secret of eternal life. Despite his efforts, Gilgamesh learns that death is inevitable and returns to Uruk, reconciled to his mortality and appreciative of the enduring achievements of humanity.

The Odyssey, attributed to Homer, is an ancient Greek epic poem that tells the story of Odysseus, king of Ithaca, and his ten-year journey home after the Trojan War. The poem explores Odysseus's encounters with various mythical creatures, divine interventions, and natural challenges. Upon his return to Ithaca, he must confront the suitors who have been vying for his wife Penelope's hand in marriage. With the help of his son Telemachus and the goddess Athena, Odysseus devises a plan to defeat the suitors and reclaim his throne. The poem is a reflection on human nature, loyalty, and the consequences of one's actions, and it remains a crucial component of ancient Greek literature and Western cultural heritage.