ANDROCLES AND THE LION p. 201
Androclus erat servus quī cum dominō iniquō ad urbem in
Āfricā pervēnit. Ob plurimās iniūriās dominī ad fugam in ultimōs
montēs coactus est. In summō monte in maximā speluncā habitābat.
Olim Androclus ubi cibum petēbat leonem vīdit. Maximus erat
eius timor et in interiorem partem speluncae fugit. Sed leo non ferus
erat, et vēnit in speluncam maximā cum difficultāte, nam in pede erat
spina, quae eī magnum dolorem faciēbat. Tum Androclī misericordia
erat maior timore; leo signīs auxilium petēbat. Androclus spinam
vulnere expressit. Leo gratissimus erat atque hī duo, vir animalque, in
speluncā trēs annōs habitāvērunt et erant optimī amicī.
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*This story comes from Aulus Gellius’ Atticae Noctes (“Attic Nights”), a collection of literary
notes and writings on various topics that might best be described as a “miscellany.”
Watch the trailer for the 1952 film Androcles and the Lion on Hulu!
http://www.hulu.com/watch/223244
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ANDROCLES AND THE LION p. 201
Translation:
Androcles was a slave who, with his master, reached a city in Africa. On account of (his)
master’s very numerous injuries, he was forced to flight into the farthest mountains. He lived on
top of the mountain in a very large cave.
Once Andocles saw a lion when he was seeking food. His fear was very great and he fled
into the inner part of the cave. But the lion was not savage/wild/fierce, and he came into the
cave with the greatest difficulty, for in his foot there was a thorn that/which made the pain great
for him. Then, for Androcles, pity was greater than fear; the lion was seeking help by means of
signals/signs. Androcles pressed the thorn out from the wound. The lion was very grateful and
these two, man and animal, lived in the cave for three years and were best friends.
A panther is shown mauling a victim in the Roman arena in this mosaic.
Read the translation of Gellius’ original story (Noctes Atticae, V.14),
which reveals what happened to Androcles and the lion later when
they in the arena:
The account of Apion, a learned man who was surnamed Plistonices, of the mutual recognition, due to old
acquaintance, that he had witnessed at Rome between a man and a lion . . .
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ANDROCLES AND THE LION p. 201
APION, who was called Plistonices, was a man widely versed in letters, and possessing an extensive and varied
knowledge of things Greek. In his works, which are recognized as of no little repute, is contained an account of
almost all the remarkable things which are to be seen and heard in Egypt. Now, in his account of what he professes
either to have heard or read he is perhaps too verbose through a reprehensible love of display—for he is a great selfadvertiser in parading his learning; but this incident, which he describes in the fifth book of his Wonders of
Egypt, he declares that he neither heard nor read, but saw himself with his own eyes in the city of Rome.
“In the Great Circus,” he says, “a battle with wild beasts on a grand scale was being exhibited to the people. Of that
spectacle, since I chanced to be in Rome, I was,” he says, “an eye-witness. There were there many savage wild
beasts, brutes remarkable for their huge size, and all of uncommon appearance or unusual ferocity. But beyond all
others,” says he, “did the vast size of the lions excite wonder, and one of these in particular surpassed all the rest.
This one lion had drawn to himself the attention and eyes of all because of the activity and huge size of his body, his
terrific and deep roar, the development of his muscles, and the mane streaming over his shoulders. There was
brought in, among many others who had been condemned to fight with the wild beasts, the slave of an ex-consul; the
slave's name was Androclus. When that lion saw him from a distance,” says Apion, “he stopped short as if in
amazement, and then approached the man slowly and quietly, as if he recognized him. Then, wagging his tail in a
mild and caressing way, after the manner and fashion of fawning dogs, he came close to the man, who was now half
dead from fright, and gently licked his feet and hands. The man Androclus, while submitting to the caresses of so
fierce a beast, regained his lost courage and gradually turned his eyes to look at the lion. Then,” says Apion, “you
might have seen man and lion exchange joyful greetings, as if they had recognized each other.”
He says that at this sight, so truly astonishing, the people broke out into mighty shouts; and Gaius Caesar called
Androclus to him and inquired the reason why that fiercest of lions had spared him alone. Then Androclus related a
strange and surprising story. “My master,” said he, “was governing Africa with proconsular authority. While there, I
was forced by his undeserved and daily floggings to run away, and that my hiding-places might be safer from my
master, the ruler of that country, I took refuge in lonely plains and deserts, intending, if food should fail me, to seek
death in some form. Then,” said he, “when the midday sun was fierce and scorching, finding a remote and secluded
cavern, I entered it, and hid myself. Not long afterwards this lion came to the same cave with one paw lame and
bleeding, making known by groans and moans the torturing pain of his wound.” And then, at the first sight of the
approaching lion, Androclus said that his mind was overwhelmed with fear and dread. “But when the lion,” said he,
“had entered what was evidently his own lair, and saw me cowering at a distance, he approached me mildly and
gently, and lifting up his foot, was evidently showing it to me and holding it out as if to ask for help. Then,” said he,
“I drew out a huge splinter that was embedded in the sole of the foot, squeezed out the pus that had formed in the
interior of the wound, wiped away the blood, and dried it thoroughly, being now free from any great feeling of fear.
Then, relieved by that attention and treatment of mine, the lion, putting his paw in my hand, lay down and
went to sleep, and for three whole years from that day the lion and I lived in the same cave, and on the same
food as well. For he used to bring for me to the cave the choicest parts of the game which he took in hunting,
which I, having no means of making a fire, dried in the noonday sun and ate. But,” said he, “after I had
finally grown tired of that wild life, I left the cave when the lion had gone off to hunt, and after travelling
nearly three days, I was seen and caught by some soldiers and taken from Africa to Rome to my master. He
at once had me condemned to death by being thrown to the wild beasts. But,” said he, “I perceive that this
lion was also captured, after I left him, and that he is now requiting me for my kindness and my cure of him.”
Apion records that Androclus told this story, and that when it had been made known to the people by being written
out in full on a tablet and carried about the Circus, at the request of all Androclus was freed, acquitted and presented
with the lion by vote of the people. “Afterwards,” said he, “we used to see Androclus with the lion, attached to a
slender leash, making the rounds of the shops throughout the city; Androclus was given money, the lion was
sprinkled with flowers, and everyone who met them anywhere exclaimed: 'This is the lion that was a man's friend,
this is the man who was physician to a lion.'”
(The Attic Nights of Aulus Gellius. With An English Translation. John C. Rolfe. Cambridge. Cambridge, Mass.,
Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann, Ltd. 1927.)
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