Theatrum Arbitri
Subtitle: theatrical elements in the Satyrica of Petronius
By: by Costas Panayotakis.
Series: Mnemosyne, bibliotheca classica Batava.; 146
Publisher: E.J. Brill
Published: 1995
Place of publication: Leiden; New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 225
Subjects: Petronius Arbiter.; Petronius Arbiter -- Knowledge -- Performing arts.; Satire, Latin -- History and criticism.; Civilization, Ancient, in literature.; Theater -- History -- To 500.; Theater in literature.; Rome -- In literature.
Description: Theatrum Arbitri is a literary study dealing with the possible influence of Roman comic drama (comedies of Plautus and Terence, theatre of the Greek and Roman mimes, and fabula Atellana) on the surviving fragments of Petronius' Satyrica.

The theatrical assessment of this novel is carried out at the levels of plot-construction, characterization, language, and reading of the text as if it were the narrative equivalent of a farcical staged piece with the theatrical structure of a play produced before an audience. The analysis follows the order of each of the scenes in the novel.

The reader will also find a brief general commentary on the less discussed scenes of the Satyrica, and a comprehensive account of the theatre of the mimes and its main features.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. 197-207) and indexes.
Revision of the author's thesis (Ph.D.--University of Glasgow, 1993).