Atellanæ

Atellanæ, Fabulæ Atellanæ (also styled Ludi Osci), a kind of popular drama in Rome, first introduced from Atella, a town in Campania, between Capua and Naples. After the Greek drama had been brought to Rome by Livius Andronicus, the old Fabulæ Atellanæ were still retained as interludes and after-pieces. They are not to be confounded with the Greek satiric drama, although the character of both was to some extent the same. In the latter, satyrs figured; while the former personated real Oscan characters. The Maccus and Bucco of the Fabulæ Atellanæ may be considered the origin of the modern Italian arlecchino (harlequin), and other characters of the same stamp. They were the favourite characters; spoke the Oscan dialect, and excited laughter by its quaint old-fashioned words and phrases. The Atellanæ were neither so dignified as the comædia prætextata, nor so low as the comædia tabernaria, but were characterised by a genial and decent drollery. The caricature was at first always pleasant, and though quizzical, it did not lapse into obscenity, like the mimi. Respectable Roman youths, who could not appear as actors in the regular Greek drama without losing caste, were allowed to take parts in the Atellanæ. They were commonly divided into five acts, between which were frequently inserted the exodæ, old-fashioned and laughable interludes in verses. The latter also were played by young and well-born Romans. See the fragments collected after Bothe and Munk by Ribbeck in Scenicæ Romanorum Poesis fragmenta (2d ed. 2 vols. Leip. 1871-73). See also Munk, De Fabulis Atellanis (Leip. 1840).