ABSTRACT
Cannibalism in the ancient Graeco-Roman world was often a charge made against barbarians and foreigners – it was never practiced in one’s own country and never part of the current culture – it was the ultimate taboo. Before moving on to the ancient novel, this chapter focuses on what are perhaps the most well-known texts on cannibalism, historical or quasi-historical, from Greek antiquity: Herodotus’ extensive statements regarding cannibalism and cannibals. There are eight examples of the ancient Graeco-Roman novels, five in Greek and three in Latin. There are also a number of novels in fragmentary shape. The novels date from the first to the sixth centuries AD. Most importantly, there are passages in these novels that include or hint at cannibalism. The text of Lollianus has been considered as belonging both to the ancient novel genre and to the set of texts that are known as initiation manuals.
