Concerning Roman playwrights, there are only a few well recognized ones, as most plays were either destroyed or author-less. Here are the most notable/famous playwrights:
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Having grown up a slave, Terence used his undeniable talent to amount to become a well known playwright in the Roman Republic. All of the 6 plays Terence wrote have survived; a very uncommon event. Much like many other Roman playwrights, Terence would adapt Greek plays and through his adaptations provide a very realistic view on the Greek society at the time.
At the peak of his career, Terence was no where near as famous as many of the other Roman playwrights. This is due to the fact that his comedies would be no where near as graphic (we mean sexual) or violent as many other playwright's works. Instead, Terence would approach theater in a more refined manner; he would explore the aristocratic world he lived in from the point of view of slaves, who he found to be (for the most part) too stupid to understand things the way he presented them. Terence died at a young age, presumably on a trip to Rome.
Terence, like most Roman playwrights, was heavily influenced by his Greek predecessors, and as of such, his plays were adaptions of Greek works. This included a lot of controversy around him; as many believed his work was nothing but a copy of the Greek plays, and that he "contaminated" them. He was also accused of working in accordance with others to produce his work, and as of such, he was not given enough credit. All of the 6 plays Terence wrote have survived.
Andria - 166 B.C.
Hecyra (The Mother-in-Law) - 165 B.C.
Heauton timoroumenos (The Self-Tormentor) - 163 B.C.
Eunuchus (The Eunuch) - 161 B.C.
Phormio - 161 B.C
Adelphi (The Brothers) - 160 B.C.
At the peak of his career, Terence was no where near as famous as many of the other Roman playwrights. This is due to the fact that his comedies would be no where near as graphic (we mean sexual) or violent as many other playwright's works. Instead, Terence would approach theater in a more refined manner; he would explore the aristocratic world he lived in from the point of view of slaves, who he found to be (for the most part) too stupid to understand things the way he presented them. Terence died at a young age, presumably on a trip to Rome.
Terence, like most Roman playwrights, was heavily influenced by his Greek predecessors, and as of such, his plays were adaptions of Greek works. This included a lot of controversy around him; as many believed his work was nothing but a copy of the Greek plays, and that he "contaminated" them. He was also accused of working in accordance with others to produce his work, and as of such, he was not given enough credit. All of the 6 plays Terence wrote have survived.
Andria - 166 B.C.
Hecyra (The Mother-in-Law) - 165 B.C.
Heauton timoroumenos (The Self-Tormentor) - 163 B.C.
Eunuchus (The Eunuch) - 161 B.C.
Phormio - 161 B.C
Adelphi (The Brothers) - 160 B.C.
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Lucius Annaeus Seneca (normally just referred to as Seneca) was born in Cordoba, here in Spain. Later on he moved to Rome, where he was educated in both philosophical and rhetoric aspects. Although Seneca had a highly successful political career, it is said that he would reflect on violent emotions, the dangers of ambition and the differences of the political lifestyle and the philosophical one. Seneca was exiled to Corsica in the year 41; accused committing adultery. In the year 54, he was among the roman emperor Nero's adivsors, Seneca having guided him and acted as a tutor when Nero was only young.
Through difficult times, Seneca continued to support and advise the emperor. In spite of this, Seneca was accused of participating in a plan called the "Pisonian Conspiracy", which aimed to murder Nero. This poor bastard was forced to commit suicide in the year 65.
Seneca's findings were often related to his personal life. Although various aspects were involved, Seneca did not actually write from an autobiographical point of view. Instead, he created a character that he used to represent himself. While his works explained and explored things from a Stoic point of view, and Seneca considered himself to be Stoic, his personal life seemed to contradict the more noble aspects his works explored. Seneca wrote a great deal of plays, although his most recognized works are his tragedies; Octavia (which focuses on the time period in that emperor Nero divorced and exiled his wife. this play focuses on Nero's lack of ability to pay attention and absorb the advice he is given), Odeipus (a Greek play adapted by Seneca that tells the story of a hero who fulfills a prophecy stating that he must kill his father, which results in the downfall of his city. The play represents 2 very common themes in both Greek and Roman theater: myth and drama, all the while exploring the flawed nature of the human being) and finally "Phaedra", a play that features Phaedra, wife of the king of Athens who sexually desires her own stepson! What the hell, right? But themes like these were very common in Roman theater, and both acts of violence and death and even "getting it on" on stage were very common.
Through difficult times, Seneca continued to support and advise the emperor. In spite of this, Seneca was accused of participating in a plan called the "Pisonian Conspiracy", which aimed to murder Nero. This poor bastard was forced to commit suicide in the year 65.
Seneca's findings were often related to his personal life. Although various aspects were involved, Seneca did not actually write from an autobiographical point of view. Instead, he created a character that he used to represent himself. While his works explained and explored things from a Stoic point of view, and Seneca considered himself to be Stoic, his personal life seemed to contradict the more noble aspects his works explored. Seneca wrote a great deal of plays, although his most recognized works are his tragedies; Octavia (which focuses on the time period in that emperor Nero divorced and exiled his wife. this play focuses on Nero's lack of ability to pay attention and absorb the advice he is given), Odeipus (a Greek play adapted by Seneca that tells the story of a hero who fulfills a prophecy stating that he must kill his father, which results in the downfall of his city. The play represents 2 very common themes in both Greek and Roman theater: myth and drama, all the while exploring the flawed nature of the human being) and finally "Phaedra", a play that features Phaedra, wife of the king of Athens who sexually desires her own stepson! What the hell, right? But themes like these were very common in Roman theater, and both acts of violence and death and even "getting it on" on stage were very common.
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Titus Maccius Plautus was one of the greatest roman playwrights and dramatists and therefore loved and esteemed by his people. Many of the plays Plautus wrote are incomplete and about twenty of them are known to be extant. He was born in a city in Italy called Umbria, which at the time was a wine, olive and grain producing region east of Etruria. Most of Plautus play were comedies about men sowing oats. Some of his plots of his plays can be recognized in the comedies of Shakespeare. It is said Plautus wrote about 130 pieces mainly derived from Greek comedies.
The most recognized and the ones that have survived over the years are the following:
The Menaechmi
The Asses
The Merchant
The Swaggering Soldier
Stichus
The Persian
Truculentus
The Pot of Gold
Curculio
Epidicus
The Rope
Trinummus
Mostelleria
Pseudolus
The Two Bacchides
Amphitryo
Casina
The most recognized and the ones that have survived over the years are the following:
The Menaechmi
The Asses
The Merchant
The Swaggering Soldier
Stichus
The Persian
Truculentus
The Pot of Gold
Curculio
Epidicus
The Rope
Trinummus
Mostelleria
Pseudolus
The Two Bacchides
Amphitryo
Casina