The other especially memorable part of the novel is Book 11, which features a miraculous appearance by the Goddess of the universe, who identifies herself as Isis. The hero of the novel ends up being initiated in to the mystery cults of Isis and Osiris.
Apuleius has influenced numerous people, including the Romantic poets and the writers of the Aesthetic and Decadent schools. He has also been influential on Freemasons, who have seen him as an ancient predecessor, and Pagan revivalists from the Golden Dawn to Wicca.
You can read more on my website here: www.robindouglas.org/post/the-rom...
I maintain that one of my better in-class insights is that the hero joining the mystery cults is effectively joining the 2nd-century version of Scientology.