The Satyricon of Petronius / The Apocolocyntosis of Seneca Chapter Summary & Analysis - The Apocolocyntosis of the Divine Claudius Summary

The Apocolocyntosis of the Divine Claudius Summary

The 13th of October is the day that Claudius begins to gasp his last breath. Mercury takes one of the three Fates aside and pleads for Claudius to be taken out of his misery. He is sixty-four years old and the astrologers have been predicting his death every month of every year since his birth. Clotho responds that he was given more time to grant citizenship to the few aliens still left. During his rule, Claudius had tried to get every Greek, Gaul, Spaniard and Briton into a toga. But it is agreeable with Clotho to leave a few aliens for the next ruler. However, she will make sure Claudius, who is used to being surrounded by followers, not die alone. Baba and Augurinus will die in close proximity to Claudius.

After Clotho casts her spell, Claudius does appear dead—ironically expiring while listening...
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