Quintus Novius

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Quintus Novius (fl. 30 BC), Roman dramatist, composer of Atellanæ Fabulæ (Atellan Fables). His efforts seem to have been directed towards giving literary dignity to this form of drama without diminishing their popular character and traditional cast of characters. He is known to have written his works around the same time as Lucius Pomponius, who also wrote Atellanæ Fabulæ; Macrobius makes reference to him as a very well-esteemed writer whose atellaniolae ("little Atellans") found a receptive audience.

Some of Novius’ known works, among the forty-three that are attributed to him, include:

  • Macchus Exsul (“Exiled Macchus”)
  • Gallinaria (“The Henhouse”)
  • Surdus (“The Deaf One”)
  • Vindemiatores (“The Harvesters”)
  • Parcus (“The Treasurer”)
  • Hetaera ("The Courtesan")
  • Bucculo (“Little Bucco”)
  • Mania Medica ("Medical Mania")
  • Pappus Praeteritus (not to be confused with the play of Lucius Pomponius of the same name)

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