I recall my ancient history professor at university was having difficulty getting the students to read,The Satyricon until he told them it was the first pornographic novel in western civilization.
Antigone is good - very good.
I also like Elektra.
(The story about Agamemnon and Clytemnestra is one of my favorite family sagas. I used to tease one of my co-workers about writing it up as a soap opera - you could do it, but oh, what a tragedy.)
I bet that got them reading the Satyricon. But the piece that will stick in my mind forever is the dinner scene. Oh what gorgeous nouveau riche excess....even by Roman standards!