Though incomplete works were found spreaded all across the Mediterranean, mostly though in translated form.
Also I find interesting that the common latinism: Alea Yacta Est, or The Die Is Cast, allegedly said by Julius Caesar before crossing the Rubicon was in reality quoting a Menander’s play in greek which was instead “Let the die be cast”.
So Menander was clearly a big big deal back then, yet it was mostly unknown to me. Thanks for sharing!
The story of the play concerns a rich young nobleman, Sostratos, who falls in love at first sight with a village peasant girl and decides to marry her. Unfortunately, her father, Knemon, is reclusive, notoriously bad-tempered, and next to impossible to approach. Eventually, after winning over Knemon’s stepson Gorgias, showing his own work ethic, and helping to rescue Knemon from the well he has absurdly fallen into, Sostratos wins Knemon over and receives his blessing to marry his daughter. Sostratos also persuades his own father, Kallippides, to bless the betrothal of his own daughter to Gorgias. At the end of the play, Knemon is dragged kicking and screaming by the other characters to join the party for his daughter’s wedding. As explained in the prologue, the events of the play are secretly orchestrated by the god Pan who wishes to reward the religious piety of Knemon’s daughter and force Knemon, against his will, to experience a redemption arc.
I’m sure it’s hilarious in the original ancient Greek.
Classic Knemon L
🎶 This Christmas, on Hallmark… 🎶
Sounds like a Tumblr post.
I wonder if we’d find his work funny today.
“A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To the Forum.”
Modern writers took some old Roman comedies and turned them into a Broadway musical.
Are the characters are types you’ve seen a zillion times; the horny, henpecked husband; the shrill wife; the dopey love sick son; the silly young girl; the scheming businessman; the schnook assistant, and so on.
Everybody ought to have a maid!
What about that was ironical?
The most popular writer being unknown is pretty ironical no?
Unknown to us, like many other things in the past. Not unknown to his contemporaries, as you wrote.
Like rain on your wedding day
Like a free ride when you’re afraid to fly!
Like a wedding day when you’ve already payed!
I can’t tell if you’re being sarcastic but no that’s not ironic.
I guess we dont have the same definition then
I mean, the opposite of the statement being true is like, the most accepted definition. So, I feel 'ya. …I wonder what their definition is??
Maybe the play was recorded on a sheet of metal?
