Lydia Character Analysis in The Decameron

In Panfilo’s seventh tale (VII, 9), Lydia is the young and beautiful wife of Nicostratos. When she falls in love with their servant, Pyrrhus, he sets her three difficult tasks to win his love. She accomplishes these by various tricks and subterfuges, then adds her own trick, cuckolding Nicostratos while he watches.

Lydia Character Timeline in The Decameron

The timeline below shows where the character Lydia appears in The Decameron. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...ancient city in Greece, an old nobleman named Nicostratos lives with his much younger wife, Lydia. Nicostratos is fond of hunting and owns many hawks and hounds for the purpose. Among... (full context)

But Pyrrhus suspects that Lydia is testing his loyalty. Swearing that he’d never dishonor Nicostratos, he sends Lusca back to... (full context)

Pyrrhus had already decided to accept Lydia’s love—as long as he can be sure that she’s not testing him. He wants her... (full context)

A few days later, while Nicostratos is hosting a dinner party, Lydia dresses up, saunters into the hall, and smashes his favorite bird against the wall. When... (full context)

One day, when Lydia and Nicostratos are together, she starts to caress and tease him. When he gently pulls... (full context)

But Lydia won’t be content until she’s fulfilled her own condition. Pretending to be ill, she asks... (full context)

As soon as Nicostratos is in the tree, Pyrrhus and Lydia start to make love, but as soon as he starts to climb down, they resume... (full context)

Lydia interrupts Pyrrhus to express her annoyance that Nicostratos would really believe she’d cheat on him... (full context)