Athenian Comedy in the Roman Empire

Athenian comedy is firmly entrenched in the classical canon, but imperial authors debated, dissected and redirected comic texts, plots and language of Aristophanes, Menander, and their rivals in ways that reflect the non-Athenocentric, pan-Mediterranean performance culture of the imperial era. Although the reception of tragedy beyond its own contemporary era has been studied, the legacy of Athenian comedy in the Roman world is less well understood.

This volume offers the first expansive treatment of the reception of Athenian comedy in the Roman Empire. These engaged and engaging studies examine the lasting impact of classical Athenian comic drama. Demonstrating a variety of methodologies and scholarly perspectives, sources discussed include papyri, mosaics, stage history, epigraphy and a broad range of literature such as dramatic works in Latin and Greek, including verse satire, essays, and epistolary fiction.

"Marshall and Hawkins have assembled a diverse and stimulating collection of essays, which will prove to be a valuable resource for future work in this area.” - Mouseion

“Contributors treat diverse authors, texts, and evidence, yet each chapter remains firmly rooted in a measured consideration of the received genre. Readers with an interest in Athenian comedy, Old or New, or in a cautious yet productive approach to comic reception, will discover much of value in this well-executed volume.” – Classical World

“An exciting collection that exposes not only the enduring influence of classical Athenian comedy but also the depth and sophistication of later Greeks' response to it. Like their subject matter, these essays are vibrant, acute, learned and not infrequently surprising.” —Tim Whitmarsh, A. G. Leventis Professor of Greek Culture, University of Cambridge, UK

“These studies offer a rich panorama of the continuing vitality of Greek comedy throughout the rest of antiquity. We can see comedy, Old and New, continuing to engage, inspire – and sometimes enrage – small town audiences and imperial elites, and it's well worth joining the throng!” —Niall W. Slater, Samuel Candler Dobbs Professor of Latin and Greek, Emory University, USA