Greek comic dramatist. Previously only known by reputation and some short fragments, Menander's comedy
Bad-Tempered Man (316
BC), was discovered in 1957 on Egyptian papyrus. Substantial parts of
The Samian Woman,
The Arbitration,
The Unkindest Cut, and
The Shield are also extant. His comedies, with their wit and ingenuity of plot often concerning domestic intrigue, were adapted by the Roman comic dramatists
Plautus and
Terence.
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