Essere o non essere φιλοδέσποτος? Il dilemma di due schiavi (note di lettura a Com.Adesp. frr. 1006-1007 K.-A.)

F. Stama

2022-01-01

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Abstract

This paper focuses on the characterization of the comic slave in two adespota comic fragments. P.Oxy. I 10 (= Com.Adesp. fr. 1006 K.–A.), assigned to II/III century A. D., contains what remains of 20 iambic trimeters. At ll. 7–20, a slave states that he doesn’ t want to be φιλοδέϲποτοϲ (l. 13), and intends to avoid any involvement in an otherwise unknown intrigue. Another slave, a loyal one, named Daos, speaks at ll. 29–42 of P.Oxy. I 11 (= Com.Adesp. fr. 1007 K.–A.), a fragment dated to I/II A. D., preserving rests of two consecutive columns from a lost comedy. His young master intends to break off his engagement, and Daos tries to make him change his mind; despite his master’ s stubbornness, the slave doesn’ t give up, and decides to find a way to save his master from ruin.