Plautus travelled to Rome at an early age and worked as an actor for some years. It was during this time that he adopted the names of Maccius and Plautus. He is also said to have worked in shipping and as a manual laborer. In his spare time he studied Greek drama and used the Greek model for many of his own plays which were produced between 205 BC and 184 BC. Plautus was extremely popular and successful and his plays were copied by many at the time. His characters, especially those of slave-master reversal, inspired many succeeding playwrights, including Shakespeare and Moliere. Over 40 plays were attributed to Plautus by Varro and twenty of these have survived. They are Amphitryon, Addictus, Asinaria, Aulularia, Bacchides, Captivi, Casina, Curculio, Epidicius, Menaechmi, Mercator, Miles Gloriosus, Mostellaria, Persa, Poenulus, Pseudolus, Rudens, Saturio, Stichus and Trinummus. |
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