Fragmentary Republican Latin, Volume VIII : Accius. Turpilius. Minor Comic Poets

Unset pieces. The Loeb Classical Library series Fragmentary Republican Latin continues with the works of two dramatists from the later Roman Republic. Accius (170–ca. 80 BC) was a prolific writer of serious drama; over forty titles of his tragedies are known through fragments, as he seems to have explored a wide spectrum of mythical stories and cycles. In addition to his activity as a playwright, Accius was a literary critic and scholar; he produced treatises on theatrical and literary questions (Didascalica, Pragmatica), an epic (Annales), and other works of various kinds (Parerga, Sotadica, Praxidicus). A sophisticated style as well as elaborate and graphic sketches of dramatic characters were regarded as characteristic of his writing. Turpilius (died 104/103 BC) is the last known writer of comedies from the Republican period. Thirteen plays (with Greek-inspired titles) are known and attested by fragments. Turpilius seems to have continued the development of Roman drama toward a more refined form in the style of Terence, and also included effective features of Plautine comedy. Turpilius’ works illustrate how Roman comedy developed toward the end of the Roman Republic. This volume also includes all that remains from the so-called minor comic poets of the period such as Terence’s opponent Luscius Lanuvinus. This material provides useful context for playwrights like Plautus and Terence, about whom more information is available, and thus shows the vibrancy of the dramatic genre of comedy in Republican Rome. The texts are based on the most recent and reliable editions of the source authors and have been revised, freshly translated, and annotated in light of current scholarship.