Atellan

In his earlier life the so-called Atellan plays (fabulae Atellanae) were the favourites: these were of indigenous Latin origin, and probably took their name from the ruined town Atella, which might provide a permanent scenery as the background of the plays without offending the jealousy of any of the other Latin cities. [

Social life at Rome in the Age of Cicero W. Warde Fowler 1884

When by this arrangement the business of the scenic performances was called away from laughter and intemperate mirth, and the amusement became gradually converted into an art, the young men, leaving to regular actors the performance of plays, began themselves, according to the ancient usage, to throw out ludicrous jests comprised in verses, which from that time were called _exodia_, and were collected chiefly from the Atellan farces.

The History of Rome, Books 01 to 08 Titus Livius

Hence it remains an established usage that the actors of the Atellan farces are neither degraded from their tribe, and may serve in the army, as if having no connexion with the profession of the stage.

The History of Rome, Books 01 to 08 Titus Livius

Comedy, represented by Mime and Atellan farce, p. 24.

Post-Augustan Poetry From Seneca to Juvenal Harold Edgeworth Butler 1914

Even the introduction into an Atellan farce of jests on the deaths of

Post-Augustan Poetry From Seneca to Juvenal Harold Edgeworth Butler 1914

Both Atellan and mime abounded in topical allusions and spared not even the emperors.

Post-Augustan Poetry From Seneca to Juvenal Harold Edgeworth Butler 1914

_ _Maccus_ and _Bucco_ were stock characters in the Atellan farce.

The Apologia and Florida of Apuleius of Madaura Lucius Apuleius 1914

The Atellan was of Italian origin and contained four stock characters,

Post-Augustan Poetry From Seneca to Juvenal Harold Edgeworth Butler 1914

It renounced the use of masks and reached, it would seem, an even greater pitch of indecency than the Atellan.

Post-Augustan Poetry From Seneca to Juvenal Harold Edgeworth Butler 1914

The Atellan plays were later than the imitations of Etruscan acting mentioned on page 110.]

The Story of Rome from the Earliest Times to the End of the Republic Arthur Gilman