Interior of Theatre of Marcellus

Salvete!

Welcome to Roman Comedy, a web-based introduction to the comic stage plays of ancient Rome. 

Although first staged more than two thousand years ago, the comic plays of Plautus and Terence do not seem “old.” They seem utterly familiar. When we read in Plautus or Terence about a lovesick young man desperate to rescue his girlfriend from danger, or a loudmouthed braggart who seems more buffoon than hero, we might just as easily be watching an episode of a television sitcom. 

That quality of being contemporary, in both character type and plot, makes Roman comedy an ideal focus of study for high school students of Latin, classical literature, and Roman society. 

And yet the typical high school curriculum for advanced study of Latin does not include Roman comedy!

In part to encourage high school teachers and their students to consider reading and studying Plautus and Terence, we developed this website. 

Researched, written, and designed by Latin students at Agnes Scott College in Spring 2005, Roman Comedy is meant to provide an overview of Roman comedy for our high school counterparts. 

The students participating in this project were Heather Barton, Jana Earnhardt, Kaitlyn Fernandez, Meg Ginn, Amy Mickler, Hollis Mutch, and Sarita Patel under the direction and guidance of Dr. James Abbot. 

The organization of Roman Comedy is simple. On the left, you see a list of topics. The headings are “clickable” and will take you to brief essays, timelines, pictures, and other material relevant to each topic.

Roman Comedy is an ongoing project. Subsequent classes of Latin students at Agnes Scott College will improve, expand, and perhaps in some cases even correct the material you find here. 

Until then, we hope that you find it useful!

Heather, Jana, Kaitlyn, Meg, Amy, Hollis, and Sarita