Plautus Titus Maccius
The most popular playwright of ancient Rome, Plautus adapted Greek New Comedy into Latin with raucous energy and verbal wit. His comedies of mistaken identity and scheming slaves defined the genre for centuries. Shakespeare and Molière both drew heavily from his plots.
Works
- MenaechmiRoman farce of twin brothers confused by striking resemblance
- AmphitryonComic play of divine trickery and a servant impersonating a god
- The Pot of GoldRoman farce of a miser, a pot of gold, and romantic schemes
- Miles GloriosusFarce of a braggard soldier and the clever slave who outwits him
- PseudolusRoman farce of a clever slave's intricate deceptions and schemes