Terence

• Publius Terentius Afer, also known as Terence (c.185/195-159 BCE), was a Roman Playwright of the Roman Republic, whose Comedies were performed between 170-160 BCE.
• His Comedies were widely read during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, because they were considered an easy way to teach people how to speak and write in Latin.

Biography

• Terence was a Roman Slave belonging to a Roman Senator, P. Terentius Lucanus.
• He was probably of Berber origin from the Province of Africa.
• Lucanus had him educated and then freed him, at which point he took his master’s Nomen, Terentius.
• At 25, Terence went to Greece, but possibly drowned during the voyage, as he was never mentioned again.

Works

• Terence wrote 6 Plays, all of which have survived:
  • Andria (The Girl from Andros) (166 BCE)
  • Hecyra (The Mother-in-Law) (165 BCE)
  • Heauton Timorumenos (The Self Tormentor. 163 BCE)
  • Phormio (161 BCE)
  • Eunuchus (161 BCE)
  • Adelphoe (The Brothers. 160 BCE)