Sosia and Roman Epic
1958; Classical Association of Canada; Volume: 12; Issue: 3 Linguagem: Inglês
10.2307/1086235
ISSN1929-4883
Autores Tópico(s)Classical Antiquity Studies
ResumoTHE first act of Plautus' Amphitruo contains well-known description by slave Sosia of his master's victory over Teleboans. The passage has given rise to a great deal of discussion, main points at issue being whether Sosia's narrative is to be taken seriously or not, and on what original or model it was based. In this article I shall try to offer a brief survey of some of interpretations that have been put forward, to advance reasons for supposing passage to be burlesque in character, and to note and consider certain similarities which it bears to epic. Some critics have taken view that Sosia's words constitute a piece of serious writing. In his edition of play Palmer remarks that the ultimatum of Amphitruo . . . pitched battle and crushing defeat of enemy . . . are all in proper Livian style;' on line 87 of first act he comments that the description rises a good deal higher than comic slave: it is quite Homeric. Fraenkel in Plautinisches im Plautus speaks of Plautus enriching his diction with language of tragedy and claims an affinity in style between Ennian drama and Sosia's canticum.2 Webster in Studies in Later Greek Comedy says that narrative evidently interested Plautus and his public not as a piece of comic parody, but as a magnificent description in itself.3 Janne sees references to campaign of M. Fulvius Nobilior against Ambracia, and in fact supposes play to be a command piece, written for Fulvius' triumph, and celebrating birth of Hercules, to whom Fulvius had dedicated a temple.4 Bignone,5 Arnaldi,6 and Rostagni7 may also be mentioned among those who take battle story as serious in intention. Others have regarded passage as some form of parody. Leo thought that it was aimed at similar announcements by messengers in tragedy, comparing Euripides' Heraclidae 830ff.8 Sedgwick's interpretation seems to be along somewhat similar lines.9 Mlle. A. M. Guillemin considers
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