Ancient Greek verses discovered in Vatican

[Viggen]

ROME (Reuters) - A manuscript containing possibly unknown verses penned by the ancient Greek playwright Menander more than 2,000 years ago have come to light at the Vatican Library, the Vatican's newspaper has said. While half of the 400 verses, copied on to a parchment in the ninth century, appear to be come from Menander's only salvaged play "The Grouch", or "Dyskolos", researchers believe 200 verses could be completely new finds.

 

"The deciphering and deep analysis of the new fragments...will allow us to read again, after two millennia, a text that was believed to be lost," L'Osservatore Romano daily said on Friday. The verses were discovered by Francesco D'Aiuto, the Vatican Library's specialist in Greek manuscripts. Menander, a prolific writer of Greek comedies who was born in 342 BC, has been called the father of the modern sitcom.

 

For years his texts were only known due to references from his contemporary admirers. Over the last century, manuscripts with fragments of his plays have come to light, including an almost complete copy of "The Grouch". The protagonists of the new verses found at the Vatican Library are an old woman, a newborn child and a girl, according to initial studies, although the details of the plot have yet to unfold, L'Osservatore said. The manuscript is a copy of Menander's verses written on animal skin and stored in a Syrian monastery before making its way to the Vatican.