Epidicus

Epidicus is an ancient Roman play written by T. Maccius Plautus. It is said to be one of Plautus's favorite works. Epidicus is the name of the main character, who is a slave. The plot takes many turns as Epidicus tries to please his master's son, Stratippocles.

The main plot was based upon a Greek play. However, the storyline was changed in order to prevent a brother from marrying his half-sister. The Romans considered this incest, which deeply disturbed them; the Greeks, however, were not bothered by this.

Characters[]

• Periphanes – an aged Athenian who has a son in wedlock, Stratippocles. Had a relationship with a Theban woman, Philippa and had an illegitimate daughter, Telestis, who lives with her mother in Thebes.
• Stratippocles – son of Periphanes, is summoned to war in Thebes between the Athenians and Thebans. Has his slave, Epidicus, purchase a slave girl, Acropolistis, before he leaves for war. Once in Thebes, falls in love with another girl, Telestis, whom he purchases on borrowed money.
• Philippa – formerly seduced by Periphanes. A woman of Thebes who has an illegitimate daughter, Telestis.
• Epidicus – slave to Periphanes.
• Telestis – illegitimate daughter of Periphanes and Philippa.
• Acropolistis – first girl that Stratippocles falls in love with; plays as if she is Periphanes' daughter

Plot[]

Epidicus is a slave who looks only to please those he serves. In the play, Stratippocles, the son (born in wedlock) of Epidicus' master Periphanes, has fallen in love with Acropolistis, a female slave. Epidicus tricks his master out of a sum of money in order to purchase Acropolistis. Epidicus does this by convincing his master that this girl is Periphanes' daughter Telestis, born out of wedlock with a woman named Philippa. Periphanes hasn't seen Telestis in many years, and Epidicus tells him that she was captured in Thebes and brought to Athens. Believing this young woman is his daughter, Periphanes willingly hands over the money.

Stratippocles soon goes off to war, falling in love with a different woman while he is away. Stratippocles borrows forty mince from a banker to purchase this new woman. When Stratippocles returns home, he vows not to meet with his father until the debt is paid back to the banker. To accomplish this, Stratippocles tells Epidicus to accumulate the money, threatening to severely punish him if he does not succeed. Trying to convince Periphanes to give him more money, Epidicus tells his master that Stratippocles is about to purchase a singing-girl, Acropolistis, in order to marry her. Epidicus states that he needs to purchase the girl before Stratippocles can, so that the marriage can be avoided. Eventually, Periphanes decides to give his slave the money. Once the money is received, Epidicus uses it to pay off the banker. Epidicus then purchases a different singing-girl to act as if she were Acropolistis.

A captain who is enamored with Acropolistis comes to Periphanes' home in hopes of convincing Epidicus to allow him to gain custody of her. However, when the captain arrives, he realizes that the singing-girl is not Acropolistis, but instead a fraud. All the while, the real Acropolistis is presented to Periphanes as his daughter Telestis. While this is occurring, Philippa, the real Telestis' mother, shows up at Periphanes' home looking for her daughter, since she heard she was brought to Athens. Periphanes assures Philippa that their daughter, Telestis, is safe inside. When Telestis is presented to Philippa, she instantly knows it is not her daughter and is a fraud. Epidicus is confronted about his double deceit and is to be severely punished. However, the woman that Stratippocles purchased while away is brought to Periphanes' home with her former master, ready to be given to Stratippocles. When the young slave girl walks in, Philippa recognizes her to be her daughter, Telestis. Overwhelmed and confused, Periphanes finally meets his daughter for the first time. Stratippocles, upset about the "loss" of his love due to her being his half-sister, is comforted by Acropolistis, the original slave girl whom Epidicus purchased. Epidicus is quickly forgiven for his trickery, and is freed from slavery for his help in reuniting a father and daughter.

External links[]

• Perseus Project – T. Maccius Plautus, Epidicus, or The Fortunate Discovery
• BECK index: Plautus, Terence, and Cicero