HECYRA, ADELPHOE, AND THE FUNERAL GAMES OF L. AEMILIUS PAULLUS

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This article provides an improved understanding of the commemorative quality that Roman comedy had at the funeral games of L. Aemilius Paullus. By incorporating Hecyra into the discussion, this article shows how Hecyra’s intended production, in tandem with Adelphoe, challenges past historicizing readings. A comparative analysis of the two plays demonstrates that Hecyra does not offer suitable character analogues or themes to complement those found in Adelphoe. Since it is insufficient to present a commemorative explanation that accounts for only one of the two plays, ano­ther explanation is required. The following discussion proposes that the Greek models for Hecyra and Adelphoe were both sourced from Macedon’s royal library. This library represented a versatile symbol of Paullus’ conquest of Macedon which recognized not only his personal contribution to the victory, but also his redeemable qualities as a general and father on that campaign. The production of Greek comedies sourced from this library would have celebrated Paullus’ achievement at Pydna; the fact that they were translated and adapted for a Roman spectacle would have further enriched the funeral’s overarching ethos of conquest.