''Stichus'' is a comedic

Latin Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through the power of the ...

play Play most commonly refers to: * Play (activity), an activity done for enjoyment * Play (theatre), a work of drama Play may refer also to: Computers and technology * Google Play, a digital content service * Play Framework, a Java framework * Pla ...

by the early

Roman Roman or Romans most often refers to: *Rome, the capital city of Italy *Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD *Roman people, the people of ancient Rome *''Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a letter ...

playwright A playwright or dramatist is a person who writes plays. Etymology The word "play" is from Middle English pleye, from Old English plæġ, pleġa, plæġa ("play, exercise; sport, game; drama, applause"). The word "wright" is an archaic English ...

Titus Maccius Plautus Titus Maccius Plautus (; c. 254 – 184 BC), commonly known as Plautus, was a Roman playwright of the Old Latin period. His comedies are the earliest Latin literary works to have survived in their entirety. He wrote Palliata comoedia, the gen ...

. Some scholars allege that this play was not, in fact, written by Plautus

Plot

Athens Athens ( ; el, Αθήνα, Athína ; grc, Ἀθῆναι, Athênai (pl.) ) is both the capital and largest city of Greece. With a population close to four million, it is also the seventh largest city in the European Union. Athens dominates ...

, the two daughters of wealthy Antipho, Philumena and Pamphila, are married to the brothers Epignomus and Pamphilippus. Due to mismanagement of their property, the two husbands became merchants to make money, and by the start of the play they have been away for three years. As no news has been received about their husbands' whereabouts, the women are encouraged by their father to remarry, but they refuse. The boy Pinacium tells Philumena that her husband has returned. On their way home, the husbands rebuff the attempts of the '' parasitus'' Gelasimus to take advantage of them. After they arrive at Antipho's home, Antipho requests the gift of a female slave, after which they reconcile. The slave Stichus is granted some wine and a day off. He and his friend Sagarinus celebrate with their mistress, Stephanium. The play ends with a dance.

Translations

* English translation by

Henry Thomas Riley Henry Thomas Riley (June 1816 – 14 April 1878) was an English translator, lexicographer, and antiquary. Life Born in June 1816, he was only son of Henry Riley of Southwark, an ironmonger. He was educated at Chatham House, Ramsgate, and at Cha ...

Perseus In Greek mythology, Perseus (Help:IPA/English, /ˈpɜːrsiəs, -sjuːs/; Greek language, Greek: Περσεύς, Romanization of Greek, translit. Perseús) is the legendary founder of Mycenae and of the Perseid dynasty. He was, alongside Cadmus ...

''Stichus''
* Wolfang de Melo, 2013

References

External links

* Latin text edited by Friedrich Leo at Perseus
''Stichus''
{{Authority control Plays by Plautus Plays set in Athens Plays set in ancient Greece