Plautus (c. 254-184 B.C.)
Renowned as a Roman writer of comedies, Plautus ('Flatfoot') was born in Umbria where he may have joined a traveling acting group that performed farces. He then became a Roman soldier, where, while stationed in southern Italy, he was exposed to Greek New Comedy and the plays of Menander. Although based on Greek comedy, the behavior of the characters in the plays of Platus was very Roman, although Plautus himself may never have been a Roman citizen. Read more about Plautus.