Arbuscula (Latin: Arbuscŭla; d. between 54 and 35 BCE) was a woman stage performer of ancient Rome. She was a celebrated actor in pantomimes during the 1st century BCE, when most of the female parts at the time were played by men at least in tragedy.[1]
Cicero speaks of her in 54 BC as having been very successful, and having given him great pleasure.[2][3] Horace mentions her as having been hissed and booed at by an audience,[4] though it is said she did not care that the common people booed her, and remarked, "It is enough the knights still applaud me."[5]
References edit
- ^ Broadbent, R. J. (1901). A History of Pantomime. Library of Alexandria. Vol. 1. Library of Alexandria. ISBN 9781465550088. Retrieved 2017-03-18.
- ^ Cicero, Epistulae ad Atticum 4.15
- ^ Horace, Serm. 1.10. 76—77
- ^ Forsyth, William (1871). Life of Marcus Tullius Cicero. Scribner. p. 333. Retrieved 2017-03-18.
- ^ Lintott, Andrew (2009). The Romans in the Age of Augustus. The Peoples of Europe. Vol. 19. John Wiley & Sons. p. 98. ISBN 9781444319323. Retrieved 2017-03-18.
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Smith, William (1870). "Arbuscula". In Smith, William (ed.). Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology. Vol. 1. p. 257.
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