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The Forensic Stage

Settling Disputes in Graeco-Roman New Comedy

Adele C Scafuro author

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Cambridge University Press

Published:10th Jun '04

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The Forensic Stage cover

This pioneering work explores how legal disputes were settled out of court in fourth-century BC Athens and second-century BC Rome.

Graeco-Roman New Comedy has traditionally provided a source for legal historians examining the language and operation of law both in Athens in the fourth century and in Rome in the second century BC. Adele Scafuro here provides the first comprehensive treatment in English of one crucial area of this vast field, namely, the way legal disputes are settled out of court in Athens, both on and off the comic stage. Beginning with a close examination of pre-trial scenarios in the Attic orators and looking for comparable ones in pre-classical Roman law, Dr Scafuro then turns to the plays of Greek New Comedy and their adaptations by Plautus and Terence. There she identifies similar scenarios especially in disputes concerning sexual violations, the marriages of heiresses, and divorces. She shows how the recognition of legal procedures aids interpretation of New Comedy texts.

'This is a remarkably learned and elegantly produced volume that is bound to be frequently consulted by scholars and students of law and comedy alike for many years to come.' Brill

ISBN: 9780521607070

Dimensions: 236mm x 158mm x 33mm

Weight: 850g

536 pages