Terence, Hecyra [Mother in Law]

JOHN THORBURN

Ed. by William John Dominik, University of Otago
The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.1.2: Ancient Roman Writing and Culture (Republic and Empire), -750-476.
Vol. editors: William John Dominik (University of Otago), Giacomo Fedeli (University of Exeter), Thomas Habinek (University of Southern California), Emily Kneebone (University of Nottingham), Elodie Paillard (University of Sydney), Sophia Papaioannou (National and Kapodistrian University of Athens), Jula Wildberger (American University of Paris)

Dates

First circulation or publication -165

Places

Ancient Rome (Republic & Empire) (Country of Origin)

Genres and Modes

Comedy
Play

Resources

Save to Bookshelf

Terence’s

Hecyra

, based on Apollodorus’ Greek original, was successfully performed in 160 BC after two unsuccessful performances in 165 and earlier in 160. The play’s action occurs before the houses of two elderly Athenians, Laches and Phidippus, and Bacchis, a prostitute. In the opening scene, the prostitute Philotis and an old woman, Syra, discuss how Pamphilus, son of Laches and Myrrina, has not yet consummated his marriage to Philumena and hopes she will divorce him. Pamphilus had been having a relationship with Bacchis. When Pamphilus’ father Laches sent him abroad on family business, Pamphilus left Philumena with his mother Sostrata, but the two women’s relationship soured.

In Act II, Laches grumbles about the relationship between Philumena and his wife Sostrata, who

Please log in to consult the article in its entirety. If you are a member (student of staff) of a subscribing institution (see List), you should be able to access the LE on campus directly (without the need to log in), and off-campus either via the institutional log in we offer, or via your institution's remote access facilities, or by creating a personal user account with your institutional email address. If you are not a member of a subscribing institution, you will need to purchase a personal subscription. For more information on how to subscribe as an individual user, please see under Individual Subcriptions.

974 words

Citation: THORBURN, JOHN. "Hecyra". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 08 November 2009 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=13480, accessed 23 April 2024.]

Save this article