Turpilius

• the name of a Roman gens. So, Sex. Turpilius, a Roman comic poet, a contemporary and friend of Terence, Cic. Fam. 9, 22, 1; cf. id. Tusc. 4, 34, 72.—Fem. Turpilia, Cic. Fam. 7, 21.

of Venice, a Roman knight, contemporary with Pliny, who mentions him as an exception to the low condition in life of the generality of Roman painters since Pacuvius. Another peculiarity was that he painted with his left hand. He was recently dead when Pliny wrote the passage in which he mentions him. There were some beautiful pictures by him at Verona. He may be placed about A. D. 60. (Plin. Nat. 35.4. S. 7.) [P.S]

a Roman dramatist whose productions belonged to the department of Comoedia Palliata.. Works Comoedia Palliata.

The titles of thirteen or fourteen (Acta, Boethuntes, Canephorus, Demetrius, Demiurgus, Epiclerus, Hetaera, Lemnii, Leucadiu Lindia, Paratcrusa, Philopator, Thrasyleon, Veliterna (?) have been preserved, together with a few fragments. Of the above, the Thrasyleon appears to have been taken from Menander, the Demetrius and the Leucadia from Alexis. According to Hieronymus, in the Eusebian Chronicle, Turpilius died, when very old, at Sinuessa in B. C. 101. He stands seventh in the scale of Volcatius Sedigitus. [Sedigitus.] Editions

The fragments will be found collected in the Poetarum Latii Scenicorum Fragmenta of Bothe, vol. ii. p. 76. 8vo. Lips. 1834. [W.R]

[Silanus.]

A Roman writer of comedies, a younger contemporary of Terence. He died at Sinuessa in B.C. 103 or 101. We possess only some of the titles and a few fragments of his plays, printed in Ribbeck's collection (Leipzig, 1872). He was the last important writer of the fabula palliata.