Terence

Publius Terentius Afer, known in English as Terence, was a celebrated playwright of the Roman Republic.

He is famous for composing six complete comedies. These works were adaptations of Greek originals by authors like Menander or Apollodorus of Carystus. All six of his plays have survived in their entirety. They were originally produced between 166 and 160 BC. Terence's work was so highly regarded that it became a standard part of the Western Roman Empire's school curriculum. His influence lasted for centuries, shaping European education until the 19th century. He even served as a formative influence for great authors such as William Shakespeare and Molière.

We learn about the specific details of his productions through documents called didascaliae. These were production notices found in ancient manuscripts. They recorded important facts like performance dates and specific occasions. They also identified the actors and the original Greek authors. The didascaliae tell us that the acting company of Lucius Ambivius Turpio produced each of Terence's plays. Musical accompaniment was provided by a tibicen, or flute player, named Flaccus. Flaccus was a slave serving a man named Claudius. These notes also helped scholars establish a timeline for his work.

The chronology of his plays is well-documented through these notices. His first play, Andria, premiered at the Ludi Megalenses in 166 BC. Other plays followed, including Heauton timorumenos in 163 BC and Eunuchus in 161 BC. The play Phormio also premiered in 161 BC during the Ludi Romani. His play Adelphoe was produced in 160 BC. During that same year, a second attempt at the play Hecyra was staged at the funeral games of Aemilius Paullus. Eventually, a third and successful production of Hecyra took place at the Ludi Romani. These records sometimes show discrepancies in numbering, which scholars debate today.

Performing these comedies was a major public event in Roman life. Plays were regular features of four annual festivals. These included the Ludi Romani in September and the Ludi Plebeii in November. They also appeared during the Ludi Apollinares in July and the Ludi Megalenses in April. Because the Roman calendar ran about two and a half months ahead of the sun, April shows often occurred in late January. There were no permanent stone theaters in Rome until 55 BC. Instead, actors performed on temporary wooden stages. These stages were small and likely held fewer than 2,000 people.

Admission to these performances was free for the general population. Seats were available on a first-come, first-served basis. However, the Senate had reserved seats starting after 194 BC. The audience was diverse, including women, children, slaves, and the urban poor. While there is debate among experts, most believe actors wore masks during these performances. Masks were a standard part of the Greek New Comedy tradition. They helped audiences recognize specific stock character types. Some ancient authors disagreed on whether Roman actors used them, but many scholars now consider it highly likely.

Traditional biographies, such as the Vita Terenti, offer a remarkable story of his life. According to these accounts, Terence was born in Carthage. He was brought to Rome as a slave in the household of a senator named P. Terentius Lucanus. His talent and appearance led his patron to grant him his freedom. Terence then adopted the name Terentius from his former master. He is said to have joined the Scipionic Circle, a group of influential noblemen. Some modern scholars believe these biographical details might be speculation by later writers. They argue that contemporaries might not have felt a dramatist was important enough for a formal biography.

Terence's plays were incredibly successful and profitable. His play Eunuchus was a massive hit in Rome. It earned 8,000 nummi, which was the highest price ever paid for a comedy. Some scholars argue the value was actually 32,000 sesterces. This was because a nummus might actually refer to a denarius, a much larger silver coin. Around the age of 25, Terence traveled to the east. He may have died from disease in Greece. Other accounts suggest he died in a shipwreck on his return voyage.

Whether by illness or shipwreck, his literary legacy remained strong.