Afranio. Frammenti di togata

Afranius was one of the most important writers of the “togata”, a distinctive form of Roman drama that brought the people, places, customs and everyday situations of Roman society onto the stage. Unlike the comedies of Plautus and Terence, which often drew on Greek models, the “togata” explored a distinctly Roman world. Yet Afranius’ plays have almost entirely disappeared and survive today only in a collection of brief fragments preserved by later authors. These fragments nevertheless offer valuable glimpses into Roman life, from family relationships and social tensions to customs, professions and everyday behaviour. This volume offers the first Italian translation of Afranius’ surviving fragments and the first commentary on the author in Italian, making his work accessible for the first time in its entirety to an Italian-speaking readership. Based on Otto Ribbeck’s critical edition, the translations are accompanied by explanatory notes, while the introduction presents Afranius, his historical and literary context, and the main themes of his work. A preface by Gregor Vogt-Spira, an updated bibliography and a concordance of the principal editions complete the volume.