Petronius

Petronius Historical Figure Nationality: Roman Empire Year of Birth: c 27 AD Year of Death: 66 AD Cause of Death: Suicide by stabbing Religion: Roman pantheon Occupation: Author of Fiction, Judge, Politician Fictional Appearances: "The Maltese Elephant" Set in OTL Type of Appearance: Posthumous reference

Gaius Petronius Arbiter (c. 27 – 66 AD) was a Roman courtier during the reign of Nero. He is generally believed to be the author of the Satyricon, a satirical novel, although there is some dispute about this.

Petronius in "The Maltese Elephant"

In chapter 132 of the Satyricon, Petronius wrote a passage where the character Encolpius puts the curled and preserved ear of a Maltese elephant to an imaginative use. This passage was so scandalous that early 20th-century Americans would not recite it in polite company, not even in the original Latin.