Ricerc@Sapienza

New edition with commentary of Satyrus, V.Eur. P.Oxy. 1167, fr. 39, col. VII. Satyrus does not anticipate the modern theory that Euripides' romantic tragedies are the starting point of late comic theatre and that Euripides, therefore, is the father of the New Comedy. Rather, in a speech entirely devoted to the use by both Euripides and the comic poets of real-life situations, Satyrus is just noting that Euripides dealt with everyday matters at the highest levels. The true beginner, however, was Homer, who had made use of both — if it is correct, of course, my reconstruction of the lacuna of l. 24 — and, moreover, of a compositio that reproduces the nuances of the everyday conversation (ll. 24-27 καὶ στίχων γε συντάξεως λεκτικῆς). Satyrus places himself on the same line of thought as Krantor, who had joined Homer and Euripides for their ability to represent pathetic situations resorting to the language of daily conversation. The theory that makes Euripides the father of the New Comedy is, thus, a creation of modern, not ancient scholars.