ABSTRACT
At the time of the Caesars, a kind of spectacle, which was imported from Alexandria a few years after the battle of Azio, was extraordinarily in vogue in Rome. This kind of spectacle, which slowly replaced classical theatre, and which survived the ruin of pagan society more than any other kind, is pantomime; and it consists of the silent representation of a scenic action, in which the expressive gesturing of the actor attempts to take the place of words. The stories of pantomime were always noble and serious, if not tragic. The subjects were taken from the mythic canon known to all peoples or referred at least to classical theatre. And the action, represented by a troupe of mimes, actors, and dancers all at the same time, was explained by songs performed by a chorus and accompanied by orchestral music played on wind and percussion instruments.
