Register Log In Wordsmith Talk Forums (Old) Weekly themes. (have been consolidated into a single forum above) Meta-words Roscian Search Advanced Forum Search Forums Calendar Active Threads

Previous Thread Next Thread Print Thread Roscian #112915 09/29/2003 3:13 PM Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 13,858 wwh Carpal Tunnel wwh Carpal Tunnel Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 13,858 "I took what Joe gave me, and found it to be the crumpled playbill of a small metropolitan theatre, announcing the first appearance, in that very week, of "the celebrated Provincial Amateur of Roscian renown, whose unique performance in the highest tragic walk of our National Bard has lately occasioned so great a sensation in local dramatic circles." I do not understand the meaning of "Roscian" in the quotation. I did find a reference to a "Roscian law" that in Rome reserved 14 rows of seats to the equites. Perhaps Bingley can explain it to us. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: Roscian #112916 09/29/2003 7:31 PM Joined: Sep 2000 Posts: 4,757 maverick Carpal Tunnel maverick Carpal Tunnel Joined: Sep 2000 Posts: 4,757 I think it's just hyperbole, Doc - all I can find is that Roscius was a Roman actor (c126–c62b.c.), but I know nothing about him. I do not think he is a widely known figure in luvvie circles, but am happy to be corrected if it's just my blind spot. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: Roscian #112917 09/30/2003 4:51 AM Joined: Apr 2000 Posts: 3,065 Jakarta Bingley Carpal Tunnel Bingley Carpal Tunnel Joined: Apr 2000 Posts: 3,065 Jakarta I suspect his enduring fame has more to do with the fact that Cicero wrote a speech for his defence in a lawsuit than with any particular outstanding abilities in the dramatic arts. http://perseus.mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de/cgi-bin/ptext?lookup=Cic.+Q.+Rosc.+1 Bingley Bingley Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: Roscian #112918 09/30/2003 12:36 PM Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 13,858 wwh Carpal Tunnel wwh Carpal Tunnel Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 13,858 Thanks, Bingley. Then "Roscian" is just an alternative to "Thespian". thespian adj : of or relating to drama; "the movie director had thespian cooperation" n : a theatrical performer [syn: actor, histrion, player, role player] Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) Thespian \Thes"pi*an\, a. [From L. Thespis, Gr. ?, the founder of the Greek drama.] Of or pertaining to Thespis; hence, relating to the drama; dramatic; as, the Thespian art. -- n. An actor. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: Roscian #112919 10/01/2003 2:08 AM Joined: Apr 2000 Posts: 3,065 Jakarta Bingley Carpal Tunnel Bingley Carpal Tunnel Joined: Apr 2000 Posts: 3,065 Jakarta Thespian for tragic actors and Roscian for comic actors, perhaps? Bingley Bingley Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Moderated by  Jackie  Hop To General Topics ------  Information and announcements  Q&A about words  Wordplay and fun  Words and languages in schools  Miscellany  Weekly Themes  Looking for (writers, speakers,... (Old) Weekly themes. (have been... ------  Words from medicine  Beheading words  Meta-words  Words from classical mythology  Animal Safari  Words with unusual etymologies  Eponyms or words derived from p...  Loanwords from German  English as a global language Print Thread Switch to Threaded Mode Show Likes Link Copied to Clipboard View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary

Default Style BlackNTan Drab eBay GooG v2 infopop new dark new light original dark original stock rounded corners Slate snow sunny dropshadow theblues Touch Of Grey UBB.threads UBB.threads - Dark UBB.threads - Light UBBCentral UBBCentral - Crimson UBBCentral - Lime UBBCentral - Marshmallow UBBCentral - Mocha UBBCentral - Zen UBBT77 UBBT77 - Dark ubbthreads ubbthreads-dark Forum Rules · Mark All Read Contact Us · Forum Help · Wordsmith Talk