Asterie appears in Horatian lyric as a woman waiting for her husband Gyges to return from a sea voyage, tempted by a persistent suitor; her name means "starry," suggesting celestial constancy. The character represents wifely devotion tested by absence and temptation, her presence allowing exploration of feminine virtue and the challenges of fidelity. Asterie demonstrates that classical love poetry addresses not only erotic pursuit but also the moral complexities of established relationships and the virtues required to maintain them.

Asterie appears in Horace's Odes as a faithful wife counseled to resist temptation while her husband Gyges travels abroad. The poem addresses the trials of separation and the competing attractions that test marital fidelity. Poets use Asterie when exploring themes of constancy, the challenges of maintaining relationships across distance, and the moral strength required to resist seduction. Unlike many classical female figures defined by infidelity or coquetry, Asterie represents virtuous resistance to temptation. The character demonstrates how lyric poetry addresses domestic and moral questions, examining the pressures on marital bonds and celebrating those who maintain loyalty despite opportunity for transgression.