Roscius Gallus, Quintus

Born circa 130 B.C.; died circa 62 B.C. Roman comedy actor.

Born a slave, Roscius was later manumitted. In an attempt to make the Roman theater more like the Greek, he introduced the use of masks (110 b. c.), but this device failed to win the audience’s approval. He ran a school of drama and was recognized as a teacher. His art was highly rated by Cicero, who studied elocution with him and with the tragedian Aesopus. According to Horace, Roscius was the author of a treatise comparing oratory and acting.