This paper systematically compares all the common motifs that appear in Petronius and in the (later) Greek love romances that have come down to us, in order to ascertain whether certain themes seriously employed by the Greek authors receive a ridiculous or parodic twist in Petronius. This appears to be the case almost with no exception. At the end of the inquiry we shall be in a position to judge whether this is due to mere hazard, and, if there is a connection between the Greek writers and Petronius, whether or not serious use has preceded parody. For both questions, there is apparently no doubt. The butt of Petronius’ parody, therefore, must be a novelistic tradition more ancient than the romances we can still read.