The prosperity of ancient Roman drama The Greeks colonized southern Italy long ago. During the expansion, the Romans came into direct contact with the higher culture created by the Greeks in southern Italy, including drama. The Romans absorbed a large number of achievements of Greek drama, which made their own drama flourish rapidly.
In 240 BC, the Romans celebrated the victory of Rome after the victory of the first Punic War and staged a script translated or adapted from Greek drama by Livius Androni Cousy (about 284-204 BC). This is the beginning of ancient Roman literature and drama. Livius is regarded as the first Roman playwright, and his works only left 14 tragedies, titles of three comedies and fragments of these plays. Levius was succeeded by Neves (about 270 ~ 20 BC1). He first staged a play in 235 BC. He is a writer with a democratic tendency. He made great contributions to the development of Roman drama, especially to the nationalization of Roman drama. In addition to continuing to adapt Greek dramas like his predecessors, he also wrote plays on the theme of Roman history and contemporary events and became the founder of Roman historical dramas. The Romans called this tragedy purple-robed drama, because the characters in the drama wore purple-edged robes that Roman officials often wore. Neves also made great contributions to the development of Roman comedy. Roman comedies at that time were mainly adapted from Greek new comedies. The story is set in Greece, and the characters use Greek names and wear Greek sweaters. So the Romans called this comedy sweater drama. Although pullover drama is based on Greek drama, it has some connection with the real life in Rome. Nevis promoted the formation of Roman pullover drama. When he wrote the script, he considered the needs of Roman society and the tastes of the audience, and he was quite free to choose the plot of the original. He often combines two plays into one. Plautus (about 254 BC ~ 65438 BC+084 BC), the most important comedian in ancient Rome, appeared after Neves. His comedies not only inherited the tradition of ancient Greek drama art, but also absorbed a lot of Italian folk drama factors, with vivid plots and humorous language, which were deeply loved by the audience. Terence (about BC 195 ~ BC 159) was another important comedian in ancient Rome. He tried to keep the characteristics of Greek new comedy more. His plays are rigorous in structure, elegant in language and close to Meinander's style.
Roman tragedy was further developed in the 2nd century BC. Its real founder was Ennis (239 ~ 169 BC). He was born in southern Italy and was influenced by Greek culture since childhood. He is gifted in poetry, writing both tragedies and comedies. His tragedy is also adapted from Greek drama, and his psychological description is profound and meticulous. Pacuvius (about 220 BC ~ BC 130 years) and Akzius (about 65438 BC+070 ~ 85 BC) are the successors of Ennius. Pacuvius's tragedy involves a wide range of myths, and the author pays attention to collecting materials that have never been used, striving for novelty. Akzius is a prolific writer, and his creation represents the highest level of Roman tragedy. He imitated the structure of the Greek tragedy trilogy and wrote a series of plays with connected plots. His plays often touch on current events, and his historical drama Brutu is obviously against personal autocracy. His tragic style is solemn and noble, his dialogue is appropriate and ingenious, and his rhetoric is rich, which is obviously influenced by his speech. During this period, the tragic works of Rome did not survive.