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Pseudolus

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EntityQ1233667· pop 15· linked from 54 articles

Also known as Pl. Ps.

Pseudolus is a play by the ancient Roman playwright Titus Maccius Plautus. It is one of the earliest examples of Roman literature and is a key example of the Fabulae Palliatae which are early Roman Comedies set in a Classical Greek setting. Pseudolus was first shown in 191 BC during the Megalesian Festival, which was a celebration for the Phrygian Goddess Cybele. The temple for worship of Cybele in Rome was completed during the same year in time for the festival.

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Author
Titus Maccius Plautus
First published
1836
Editions
14
Subjects
Criticism and interpretation, Latin drama, Latin comedy, Theater, Plays, Plautus, titus maccius, Drama (dramatic works by one author), Romanian literature, history and criticism

via Open Library

Key facts

Play.name
Pseudolus
Play.image
Duelling men design for the frontispiece of a play PK-T-AW-1637, PK-T-AW-5381b.tiff
Play.caption
Design for a frontispiece by Hendrik van Halmael
Play.writer
Plautus
Play.characters
Simo, Athenian gentleman Calidorus, son of Simo Pseudolus, slave to Simo Callipho, neighbor of Simo Phoenicium, prostitute Ballio, pimp Harpax, slave of an officer Slave boy belonging to Ballio A cook, hired by Ballio Charinus, friend of Calidorus Simia, slave to Charinus
Play.setting
a street in Athens, before the houses of Simo, Callipho, and Ballio
Play.premiere
191 BC
Play.place
Rome
Play.orig_lang
Latin
Play.genre
Roman comedy

via Wikipedia infobox

Wikidata facts

Show 3 more facts
title
Pseudolus
entry in abbreviations table
Pl. Ps.
Sources (2)

via Wikidata · CC0

~28 min read

Article

13 sections
Contents
  • Characters
  • Plot synopsis
  • Metrical structure
  • Calidorus's despair
  • Pseudolus warns Simo and tricks Harpax
  • Simia disguised as Harpax
  • Ballio is defeated
  • Pseudolus celebrates
  • Themes
  • Quotes
  • Adaptations
  • Notes
  • External links

Pseudolus is a play by the ancient Roman playwright Titus Maccius Plautus. It is one of the earliest examples of Roman literature and is a key example of the Fabulae Palliatae which are early Roman Comedies set in a Classical Greek setting. Pseudolus was first shown in 191 BC during the Megalesian Festival, which was a celebration for the Phrygian Goddess Cybele. The temple for worship of Cybele in Rome was completed during the same year in time for the festival.

Pseudolus was written in Plautus's old age (he was probably over 60 at the time): Cicero mentions it in his book on Old Age as an example of a work written by older men. It proved to be very popular and was frequently revived. Cicero records that in his day the famous actor Roscius frequently took the part of Ballio.

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