Quintus Roscius Gallus facts for kids

Quintus Roscius (born around 126 BC – died 62 BC) was a very famous Roman actor. Some old writings mention him as Gallus, but this name might not be correct.

The Amazing Life of Quintus Roscius

From Humble Beginnings to Stardom

A Legend is Born

Roscius was born a slave in a town called Lanuvium, not far from Rome. He later liked to tell a story that when he was a baby, his nursemaid found a snake wrapped around him in his crib. This was seen as a very lucky sign, like a special omen. However, the famous Roman speaker Cicero didn't believe this story was true.

Becoming a Master Actor

Roscius's owner noticed that he was very good at copying people. So, he sent Roscius to train as an actor. For many years, Roscius didn't get to keep the money he earned. This was common because slave owners usually took all their slaves' pay. But eventually, his master let him keep some of his earnings. Over time, Roscius saved enough money to buy his freedom.

He kept his former master's name, Roscius, after he became free. No other Roman actor became as popular and respected as he did. People thought so highly of him that even his students were sure to become successful actors. At the time, a more wild and clown-like acting style was popular. But Roscius showed that the best acting was about being moderate and graceful.

A Friend to Famous Romans

Learning from the Best

Roscius was said to be handsome and strong. His good looks were even written about in poems! He carefully studied how the best speakers in Rome, especially Quintus Hortensius, moved and spoke in the Forum. He earned praise from everyone for his grace and elegance on stage. He was especially good at comedies.

The famous speaker Cicero even took lessons from Roscius. The two often had friendly competitions. They would see who could show an idea or feeling better: the speaker or the actor. Roscius even wrote a book comparing acting and public speaking.

Earning Respect and Riches

A poet named Catulus wrote a short poem to honor Roscius. The powerful Roman leader Sulla gave Roscius a gold ring. This ring was a special symbol that showed he was part of the equestrian order, a group of important Roman citizens. This was a huge honor for an actor in Rome, as acting was not usually seen as a respected job.

Like another famous actor of his time, Aesopus, Roscius became very rich. At his most popular, he was paid 1,000 denarii for each show. This was a lot of money! He seems to have stopped acting some time before he died. In 76 BC, he was involved in a lawsuit over 50,000 sesterces, which was a large sum of money.

A Lasting Legacy: Roscius's Influence

The Gold Standard for Actors

By the time of the Renaissance (a period of great art and learning), Roscius was seen as the perfect example of acting excellence. If someone wanted to say an actor was the best of their time, they would call them a "Roscius." For example, when Thomas Nashe praised Edward Alleyn as the best actor of his generation in 1592, he called Alleyn a Roscius.

Later, a book about English theater was even titled Roscius Anglicanus (meaning "The English Roscius"). The amazing African American actor Ira Aldridge, who was born in New York in 1807, was known as 'The African Roscius'. He was one of the finest Shakespearean actors of his time.

Roscius in Books and Plays

Appearing in Famous Stories

Roscius is mentioned by the character Hamlet in Shakespeare's famous play Hamlet. He is also mentioned in Shakespeare's play Henry VI, Part 3.

In the 1850 novel David Copperfield by Charles Dickens, a character named Mr. Barkis calls the main character 'a young Roeshus'. The slightly different spelling shows that Mr. Barkis is from a rural background.