Titus the Flat Footed Clown (04:49)

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Titus Maccius Plautus arrived from Umbria and worked as an extra until he earned notoriety for playwriting. This episode will include scenes from "Amphitryon" by Plautus and a "Comedy of Errors" by William Shakespeare. Pompeii's theater held over 27,000 spectators; actors introduced masks called personae. (Credits)

Amphitryon: Mercury Pretends to Be Sosia (04:09)

Jupiter disguises himself and visits Amphitryon's wife Alcmene. Mercury guards the door when Sosia arrives to announce that her husband is coming back from war.

Amphitryon: Sosia Returns (02:33)

Amphitryon believes Sosia has gone mad. Alcmene insists that Amphitryon came to her last night and seduced her. He promises to investigate the matter.

Comedy of Errors: Act II, Scene 2: Two Pairs of Twins (04:23)

Titus Maccius Plautus influenced Shakespeare's use of twins in "A Comedy of Errors." Adriana asks Antipholus of Syracuse to dine with her. At the Institute for Advanced Studies in Theater Arts (IASTA), both Dromios are portrayed by the same actor. Learn parallels between Amphitryon and a "Comedy of Errors."

Comedy of Errors: Act IV, Scene 4: Adriane Insists Antipholus Was There (01:58)

Antipholus of Ephesus and Dromio of Ephesus confront Adriane about her infidelity and locking them out of the house. Plautus influenced Moliere, S.N. Behrman, and Shakespeare.

Credits: Plautus and Shakespeare (02:36)

Credits: Plautus and Shakespeare