The Revival of Interest in Representing Plays of Menander in the Late 2nd and Early 3rd Centuries AD: A Historical and Art-Historical Phenomenon

An important revival in representing plays of Menander private homes, the form both mosaics and frescoes, occurred primarily eastern part Roman empire late 2nd early 3rd centuries AD, with a limited echo felt west. The present article tries to explain why how this artistic phenomenon took place, review relevant works art their chronology is presented interpretation. discussion also refers frequent depiction theater masks well-to-do households, related custom presenting theatrical entertainment at banquet or “dinner theater.” Also significant for our purpose are continued vitality festivals throughout Greek-speaking provinces during first half century, retrospective attitude Second Sophistic, its high esteem classical drama past. This outlook was focused on Athens, it had great admiration Euripides. One additional feature influencing renewal question value placed Menander’s as models literary expression curriculum schools, especially training students rhetoric declamation. Collectively, all factors mentioned above contributed visual arts period specified.