A Cultural History of Comedy in Antiquity

This book explores the development of comedic performance in ancient Greece and Rome, focusing on the works of Aristophanes, Menander, Plautus, and Terence. It argues that comedic performances were central to Graeco-Roman culture from around 486 BCE to the mid-first century BCE and explored a range of themes, including satire, fantasy, morality, privilege, and class.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 248 pages
Publication date: 04 April 2024
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

This comprehensive volume, drawing upon the expertise of scholars across a diverse spectrum of fields within Classics and Drama, explores the evolution of comedic performance and delves into the distinct characteristics of Greek and Roman comedy. While the origins of comedy remain somewhat enigmatic, this study posits that comedic performances played a central role in Graeco-Roman culture from approximately 486 BCE to the mid-first century BCE. It examines the diverse range of comedies that flourished during this period, which were fictional dramas that engaged with the political and social concerns of ancient society, as well as occasionally incorporating elements of mythology and tragedy. The volume primarily focuses on the surviving works of Aristophanes and Menander in Athens, Plautus and Terence in Rome, and authors whose plays exist only in fragmented form. These performances and plays drew upon a multitude of forms, including satire and fantasy, and were meticulously crafted to entertain and amuse audiences while also prompting them to contemplate ethical dilemmas, social hierarchies, and class distinctions.

Each chapter of the book adopts a distinct theme as its central focus, encompassing form, theory, practice, identities, the body, politics and power, laughter, and ethics. These eight distinct approaches to ancient comedy collectively provide an extensive and synoptic coverage of the subject matter. By delving into these various aspects, the volume offers a rich and multifaceted understanding of the comedic arts in ancient Greece and Rome, shedding light on their enduring influence and relevance in contemporary society.

Weight: 482g
Dimension: 169 x 244 x 17 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781350440692