Lucius Pomponius

Background

Lucius Pomponius flourished about 90 B. C. He was called Bononiensis (“native of Bononia” (i. e. Bologna).

Career

He gave an artistic form to the Atellanae Fabulae by arranging beforehand the details of the plot which had hitherto been left to improvisation, and providing a written text. The fragments show fondness for alliteration and playing upon words, skill in the use of rustic and farcical language, and a considerable amount of obscenity.

Achievements

• Pomponius was the first to give artistic dignity to the Atellan Fables by making them less improvised and providing the actors with a script (written in the metrical forms and technical rules of the Greeks) and a predetermined plot.