Menaechmi act ii IDs

Erotium

Erotium

• Menaechmus I’s mistress

• Lives next door

• Prostitute/cortisan

• Epidamnus

• Received palla (expensive purple dress) from Menaechmus I (bought for and stole from wife)

Cylindrus

• Erotium’s cook

• Encountered Menaechmus II after going to the forum to buy provisions for Menaechmus I, Erotium, and Penicilus’ lunch

• Joked about how Peniculus eats for 8 men

• Epidamnus

Menaechmus II

• brother that was NOT kidnapped

• Sosicles

• Sailed around the world in search of his brother

• Originally from Syracuse

• Client: Messenio (sailed with)

• Gets confused for Menaechmus I in encounter with Peniculus and Cylindrus

• Looks for Menaechmus I in Epidamnus

Peniculus

• client of Menaechmus I

• Family issues; claims they take his money

• Follows Men. Around for food and drink

• Will do anything Men. Says

• Meets Menaechmus II

• Sarcastic/joking relationship with Men. I

Messenio

• client of Menaechmus II

• Sails world with Men. II

• Family like relationship

• Tells Men. II to stop searching because his brother is dead

Epidamnus

• homeland of Men. I, Peniculus, Cylindrus, Erotium, etc.

• Where Men. I was taken (from Tyrantum) when kidnapped by older merchant

• Where Men. II arrives to search for brother

• Northwest Greece

Istrii

• inhabitants of Istria

• Other side of Adriatic Sea

• Travelled by Men. II

• Modern day venice

Hispania

• Spaniards

• Travelled by Men. II

• Western mediterranean

Massilienses

• inhabitants of Massilia

• Travelled by Men. II

• Modern day marseille, france

Itilurii

• inhabitants of Illyria

• Travelled by Men. II

• Modern day croatia

Magna Graecia

• the shores of foreign Greece

• Travelled by Men. II

• Colonizers in southern boot of italy

Italia

• (the shores of) Italy

• Travelled by Men. II

Bulrush

• type of plant found in freshwater habitat

• “Searching for a knot in a bulrush” (Messenio) - same idea as needle in a haystack … bulrush grows in groups so it is very rare to find an individual strand, much like a four-leaf clover

Voluptuaries

• pleasure seekers

• Messenio claims that the inhabitants of Epidamnus are “nothing but pleasure seekers”, indicating that the city is not made up of good people (epiDAMNus - no one stays without being damned)

Sycophants

• “boot lickers”

• Informer, cheat

• Used by Messenio to describe Epidamnian people to Men. II

Irascible

• Easily angered

Palpator

• flatterer

• Used by Mess. To describe Epidamnians

Potator

• Drinker

• Mess. Describes Epid.

Incorrigible

• ruined

• “In an incorrigible disposition” (Mess - Epid.)

Nummus

• Roman coin

• Men. II wanted to know the cost of a sacrificial pig (sacer poreus)

• Drachma

Expiate

• to atone for guilt/sin, to be purified

• Men. II told Cylindrus to purify himself after he thought he was Men. I

Coriander

• herb used for seasoning

• Men. II says he doesn’t care if Cyl. Is “Cylindrus or Coriander”, meaning he doesn’t care who he is

Parasitus

• parasite

• Used to describe Peniculus by Erotium and Cylindrus

Bewildered

• Shocked + confused

• Cylindrus’ reaction when Men. II doesn’t recognize him

Reproving

• to reprimand someone/scolding

• Menaechmus II “reproves” Messenio when he complains about the length and lack of point in their trip

Tyrentum

• where Men. I was taken by his father for work (trading merchandise) by an epidamnian merchant (there was a big event going on; lots of people)

• Instep of italy

Syracuse

• birthplace of Men twins, homeland of Men II

• Southern (boot of) Sicily, italy

Super marem

• Adriatic Sea

• Sailed by Men II and Mess in search of Men I

what does Messenio mean when he says “if upon arriving at the land, you should see that it will have been your own”?

Seeing land after sailing is even better when it’s your homeland

• reference to amount of time (6y) spent at sea

What does Messenio mean when he says that they might go “around all the islands like the sea”?

they will be traveling to every possible place, touching every piece of land they can - wherever the sea touches land, they will search

when and how is a “needle in a haystack” referenced

• by Messenio

• Describes search for Men I (near impossible)

• Alludes to “dead man among the living” - says they will not find him because he is dead and they are searching living people

When and how is a “knot in a bulrush” referenced

• by Messenio

• Describing search for Men I (unlikely, as if like finding a single bulrush or four leaf clover)

• Tells Men II to go home

What is a travelogue and why is it mentioned

• a log of all the places one has been - very touristy

• Messenio mentions it sarcastically to Men II in complaint about how many places they have gone to

What does Messenio mean when he says “he was not able to speak out more with fewer words”?

that Men II said a lot with few words (everything he needed to say with few words)

hercules

• Roman hero

• 12 labors

• Taken to Olympus

• “Omg” like reference

According to Messenio, how did epidamnus get its name?

• epiDAMNus

• Everyone there is damned - pleasure seekers, liars, cheats, suckups, hookers

What are purification pigs

• white pigs used in sacrifice/purification rituals

• Sacer poreus

• Men II asks Cylindrus how much they cost

• Cylindrus says Men II should purify himself because he is acting “crazy”

Nummus

• drachma

• Roman coin

• Given to Cylindrus by Mess II for a pig

What is Messenio talking about when he says “there’s nothing with which I may break the head of this man with”?

he is talking about Men II and how he thinks he’s crazy because he does not recognize him or Cylindrus

Cyathisso

• to ladle wine

• Cylindrus says men II should recognize him because he has ladled wine for him (Men I) many times

Who is referred to as a “parasite” and why?

• Peniculus

• He follows Men I around everywhere and demands food

Pollux

• demigod of Zeus

• Brother of mortal castor

• “Omg” like expression