Poseidippus (Roman copy of lost Greek original)

After Unidentified Roman sculptor

RA Collection: Art

After the death of Menander (ca. 219 BC), the poet Poseidippus (ca. 316- ca. 250 BC) emerged into prominence as a writer of “New Comedy”. He is known to have written thirty comedies. Not only was Poseidippus celebrated in his lifetime but his work was also very popular in Roman times.

This cast is of a Roman version of a Greek bronze dating from the 3rd century BC (Vatican Museums, Rome). The statue was found between 1585 and 1590 on the Viminal, near S. Lorenzo in Panisperna, along with a statue often said to represent Menander. A hole at the top of the head suggests the statue had a meniskos and therefore was positioned outdoors.