Philebus Character Analysis in The Golden Ass

Philebus is one of Lucius’s owners (when he’s a donkey) and part of a group of priests who use religious trappings to disguise their sex work. Like most of Lucius’s owners, Philebus treats him cruelly, and at one point, Lucius is nearly eaten. Nevertheless, Lucius survives to be sold off yet again.

Philebus Character Timeline in The Golden Ass

The timeline below shows where the character Philebus appears in The Golden Ass. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

In another town, people try to buy Lucius. He is eventually sold to Philebus, who takes Lucius back to some “priests” who also act as male sex workers. They... (full context)

...and that some of the other livestock are acting wild due to rabies. Everyone in Philebus’s group believes this is the reason why Lucius is mad as well. They lock Lucius... (full context)

...it normally, and they take this as a sign that he has recovered from rabies. Philebus and the other men decide to move on with Lucius and end up staying at... (full context)