Μὰ τὴν Ἀλεμάκα: Types of Verbal Humour in the Mime of Charition (P.Oxy. 413r)

Abstract

The Charition mime, preserved on the recto of the P.Oxy. 413, is of major importance to the history and evolution of the genre under the Roman Empire. This case unifies most of the strands of research regarding the genre under discussion in a coherent vision proving that through a masterful generic assimilation of a wide range of patterns and devices the mime becomes a work of self-standing merit. Many scholars have illustrated the mime’s rich literary substratum, the analogies it bears with a wide range of texts (epic, tragedy, ancient novel), its affinities to other theatrical forms (melodramma, vaudeville) and its linguistic merits; undoubtedly one of Charition’s more interesting and tantalizing elements consists in the imaginative and euphoric mixture of Greek and Indian languages. The aim of this paper is to elucidate several instances of the dramaturgical exploitation of both languages along with mimographer’s verbal inventions to reinforce the comic effect. Under this prism, the words porde, Psolichos, Kottos and Alemaka, amidst others, seem to keep a key role to the play regarding its overarching aim, the laughter and entertainment of the audience.