Haec urbs est Thebae

What is it about?

This paper explores the blend between reality and fiction in the prologue to Plautus' comedy Amphitruo. I show that Amphitruo's divine prologue speaker, Mercury, uses spatial expressions such as 'here' and 'this city' to construct a space that is simultaneously fictional and very real. Moreover, Mercury invites the spectators to participate in this process, and to follow him into the fictional world. By entering the fictional world, the spectators agree to take part in the festive atmosphere of the Roman holidays.

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