Abstract
TheOctaviais, on the face of it, one of the most bizarre documents which have reached us from antiquity. If the news of its discovery had broken yesterday, there would certainly have been a sensation at the bare idea, whatever the literary merits of the work. A few years ago the publication of a 15-line fragment of a Greek play about Gyges caused discussion enough; but here we have acompleteRoman historical play, unlike any other ancient play in structure, featuring Nero, Octavia, Poppaea, Seneca. …