‘UBI NEC PELOPIDARUM’ (TrRF ADESP. F 83): DO CICERO’S QUOTATIONS DERIVE FROM POMPONIUS’ ATELLAN FARCE?

Unattributed Republican fragments with mythological content are often linked to tragedies, despite a tradition of mythological Atellan farce. Pomponius and Novius both wrote Atellan farces with mythological titles and are both named in Cicero’s works. Turning to Cicero’s letters, this article will examine Cicero’s repeated quotation of: ubi nec Pelopidarum facta neque famam audiam (TRF³ Incert. fr. 64 = TrRF Adesp. F 83). Cicero’s repetition of fr. 64 will be compared to the evidence for Pomponius’ Pelopid farces, Atreus and Agamemnon Suppositus, to argue that Cicero’s letters quote from mythological farce.