Lost 17th Century Play Adapting Roman Comedy to King David Story Rediscovered
Summarized from Haaretz English by baba
A 17th-century adaptation of the ancient Roman comedy "Asinaria" by Titus Maccius Plautus, retitled "Plautus' Asinaria" and recast with biblical characters to tell the story of King David, has been rediscovered in Poland's National Library. Professor Michael Fontaine, a leading expert, identified the unique copy, which survived centuries of war and destruction. Pastor Joannes Burmeister likely wrote the play in Latin for educational purposes, incorporating social and anti-war commentary alongside its bawdy plot. The play details King Saul's demand for 100 Philistine foreskins as a bride-price for his daughter Michal, with Burmeister adding elements like a romantic rival and optional obscene scenes.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- A 17th-century adaptation of Roman comedy "Asinaria" to the biblical story of King David was rediscovered in Poland.
- The play "Plautus' Asinaria" by Joannes Burmeister was lost for over 300 years before its recent find.
- Professor Michael Fontaine, an expert on Plautus, identified the unique surviving copy.
- The adaptation retains the demand for 100 Philistine foreskins as a bride-price for King Saul's daughter Michal.
- Burmeister likely wrote the play in Latin for educational purposes, incorporating social critique.
- The rediscovered work survived centuries of war, confiscation, and Nazi book burnings.
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