The Rediscovery Of Tragic Myth: Senecan Tragedy In 14th Century Europe

Abstract

This project aims to provide a new understanding of the emergence of classical tragedy by reassessing how classical Latin drama was revived in 14th century Europe after a long period of neglect. Classical tragedy, which incorporates the myths of the Graeco-Roman world in its fabric, was virtually unknown from late antiquity until the high middle ages when the tragedies of Seneca became popular. In the early 14th century, commentaries by Albertino Mussato and Nicholas Trevet allowed a new readership access to these complex ancient works; this analysis also provides new insights into trends of popularity across the ages. Using recent advances in digitisation technology and scholarship, the pro..