TheOctaviais, on the face of it, one of the most bizarre documents which have reached us from antiquity. If the news of its discovery had broken yesterday, there would certainly have been a sensation at the bare idea, whatever the literary merits of the work. A few years ago the publication of a 15-line fragment of a Greek play about Gyges caused discussion enough; but here we have acompleteRoman historical play, unlike any other ancient play in structure, featuring Nero, Octavia, (...) Poppaea, Seneca. …. (shrink)