THE HISTORY OF OLD ROME

II. From the Abolition of the Monarchy in Rome to the Union of Italy

From: The History of Rome, by Theodor Mommsen
Translated with the sanction of the author by William Purdie Dickson

CHAPTER IX - Art and Science

» Contents of this Chapter

Page 5

While accordingly the taking part in the masked farces with stereotyped characters, that formed the usual native amusement,(6) was looked upon as an innocent youthful frolic, the appearing on a public stage for money and without a mask was considered as directly infamous, and the singer and poet were in this respect placed quite on a level with the rope-dancer and the harlequin. Persons of this stamp were regularly pronounced by the censors(7) incapable of serving in the burgess-army and of voting in the burgess-assembly.

6. Cf. I. XV. Masks

7. Cf. II. VIII. Police f.

Moreover, not only was the direction of the stage regarded as pertaining to the province of the city police--a fact significant enough even in itself--but the police was probably, even at this period, invested with arbitrary powers of an extraordinary character against professional stage-artists. Not only did the police magistrates sit in judgment on the performance after its conclusion--on which occasion wine flowed as copiously for those who had acquitted themselves well, as stripes fell to the lot of the bungler--but all the urban magistrates were legally entitled to inflict bodily chastisement and imprisonment on any actor at any time and at any place.

Previous / First / Next Page of this Chapter

Do you see any typos or other mistakes? Please let us know and correct them

The History of Old Rome: Contents ||| The Medieval West | The Making of Europe | Constantinople Home Page

Receive updates :

Reference address : https://ellopos.net/elpenor/rome/2-09-art-science.asp?pg=5