Titus Maccius Plautus, Poenulus [The Little Carthaginian]

Tommaso Gazzarri (Union College, New York)

Ed. by Sophia Papaioannou, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.1.2: Ancient Roman Writing and Culture (Republic and Empire), -750-476.
Vol. editors: William John Dominik (University of Otago), Giacomo Fedeli (University of Exeter), Victoria Fendel (University of Oxford), Thomas Habinek (University of Southern California), Emily Kneebone (University of Nottingham), Elodie Paillard (University of Sydney), Sophia Papaioannou (National and Kapodistrian University of Athens), Jula Wildberger (American University of Paris)

Dates

First circulation or publication c. 219 - c. 184

Places

Ancient Rome (Republic & Empire) (Country of Origin; Publication/ performance)

Genres and Modes

Comedy
Drama

Resources

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Poenulus

(“the little Carthaginian”) is 15th among Plautus’ comedies as selected and arranged by Varro (Varronian series). The text of the play is not particularly problematic, but the numerous sections in Punic have caused extensive textual and interpretative issues.

Date

All scholars agree that Plautus most likely composed Poenulus around the time of the second Punic war (218-201 BCE). Nonetheless the possibility of pinpointing a more specific date could prove most useful for the interpretation of the play. Indeed, there are several occasions in the play where one may identify allusions to specific historical events. The so described “period of peace” at ll. 524-5 could allude to the pacification of Aetolia – a location mentioned in the comedy – which dates to the year

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2008 words

Citation: Gazzarri, Tommaso. "Poenulus". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 14 September 2016 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=35813, accessed 31 October 2024.]