Dorsennus

Fabius Dorsennus (also spelled Dossennus or Dossenus) was a thespian and author of Atellan Farce in Ancient Rome, known for his careless performances.

Description

There is some confusion regarding this figure from ancient Roman theater. In one of his epistles, Horace mentions a Dossennus:

“	[He] exceeds all measure in his voracious parasites; with how loose a sock he runs over the stage: for he is glad to put the money in his pocket, after this regardless whether his play stand or fall.	”
	— Book II, Epistle I

Pliny the Elder, however, refers to a Fabius Dossennus as the author of "Acharistio," one of the Atellanae Fabulae, in his Natural History. Pliny writes:

“	Fabius Dossennus quite decides the question, in the following line—; 'I sent them good wine, myrrh-wine'; and in his play called Acharistio, we find these words: 'Bread and pearled barley, myrrh-wine too.'	”
	— Book XIV, Epistle 15 (92)

Other uses

Dossennus was also the name of a stock character of the Atellanae Fabulae, perhaps named after Fabius Dorsennus.

Sources

• (English) Pliny the Elder, Natural History, Book XIV (Original text)
• (English) Pliny the Elder, Natural History, Book XIV (English translation)
• (English) History of Roman Literature (1877)
• (French) Meyer, Maurice, Études sur le théâtre latin