The Forensic Stage: Settling Disputes in Graeco-Roman New Comedy [Hardcover]

Adele C. Scafuro (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0521443830 | ISBN-13: 978-0521443838 | Publication Date: November 13, 1997

This book explores the ways in which legal disputes were settled out of court in fourth-century BC Athens and in second-century BC Rome. After examining pretrial scenarios in the Attic orators and comparable ones in Roman legal sources, the author turns to the plays of Greek New Comedy and their later Roman adaptations. There she identifies similar scenarios, especially in disputes concerning sexual violations, the marriages of heiresses, and divorces, and shows that recognition of legal scenarios aids interpretation of New Comedy texts.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Adele Scafuro has written an ambitious but difficult book, remarkable in the breadth and detail of its scholarship ..." William M. Owens, New England Classical Journal

"Indispensible to serious students of Greek comedy and society, it deserves a wider readership for its expertise and sheer human interest." Elaine Fantham, Classical World

"This important study of law and New Comedy is the first major work on the subject since Paoli's 1962 monograph. [Scafuro] is meticulous in assessing this rich and challenging material...." Bryn Mawr Classical Review

"This book gives a thorough treatment of all scenes and references in Greek comedy and oratory and Latin comedy to public and private arbitration mechanisms. Conclusions are usefully summarized at the end of chapters, and all examples listed in the appendixes. The book is distinguished by admirable common sense." William J. Slater, Religious Studies Review

"...The Forensic Stage is an extremely useful book..." Phoenix

Book Description

This book explores the ways in which legal disputes were settled out of court in fourth-century BC Athens and in second-century BC Rome. After examining pre-trial scenarios in the Attic orators and comparable ones in Roman legal sources, the author turns to the plays of Greek New Comedy and their later Roman adaptations.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 534 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press (November 13, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521443830
• ISBN-13: 978-0521443838
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.2 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,323,696 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.