1st century, correspondence, Europe, historical figure, Italy, Latin, primary source, quotes
In a letter to Lucilius, Seneca comments unfavourably on his wife’s fool and on fools in general. He then goes on to tell us that Harpaste became blind and, revealing her foolishness, she asked her attendant to move her to other quarters as hers had become...
1st century, Europe, historical figure, Italy, Latin, primary source, quotes, Roman
Even Nero (r. 54-68), not noted for his niceness, allowed a certain latitude to his mocking critics and these were probably mimes – actors who could take it upon themselves to improvise on stage and send some satirical sallies out into the auditorium. Despite...
2nd century, Europe, historical figure, Italy, Latin, primary source, quotes, Roman
Emperor Verus (r. 161-69)  perhaps surpasses most other emperors in his enthusiasm for entertainers of all sorts, and the comment in the Scriptores Historiae Augustae, wry in its description of his delight in them, recognizes jesters as mimes. He seems to have...
1st century, Europe, historical figure, Italy, Latin, primary source, quotes, Roman, stories
An interesting intervention by a dwarf, standing ‘among the jesters’ of the Roman emperor Tiberius (r. 14-37), and challenging him to carry out an execution of someone charged with treason.  Curious to see that while Tiberius ‘chided him for his...
1st century BCE, Europe, Italy, Latin, primary source, quotes, Roman
Fools are everywhere – the name of this website and title of the book which informs it, and a shorthand for the underlying thesis; that court fools and jesters existed, not literally in every place at all times, but across a breathtaking array of cultures over a...
