Biography
Terence's date of birth is disputed; Aeluis Donatus, in his incomplete Commentum
Terenti, considers the year 185 BC to be the year Terentius was born; Fenestella , on the other hand, states that he was
born ten years earlier, in 195 BC. He was born into a middle class family but died a wealthy man due to the revenue that his plays had gotten him.
He may have been born in or near Carthage or in Greek Italy to a woman taken to
Carthage as a slave. Terence's cognomen Afer suggests he lived in the
territory of the Libyan tribe called by the Romans Afri near Carthage prior to being brought to Rome
as a slave.This inference is based on the fact that the term was used in two different ways
during the republican era: during Terence's lifetime, it was used to refer to
non-Carthaginian Libyco-Berbers, with the term Punicus reserved for the
Carthaginians. Later, after the destruction of Carthage in 146 BC, it was used to
refer to anyone from the land of the Afri (Tunisia and its surroundings). It is
therefore most likely that Terence was of Libyan
descent, considered ancestors to the modern-day Berber peoples.
In any case, he was sold to P. Terentius Lucanus, a
Roman senator, who educated him and later on, impressed
by Terence's abilities, freed him. Terence then took the nomen
"Terentius," which is the origin of the present form.
When he was 25, Terence left Rome and he never returned, after having
exhibited the six comedies which are still in existence. According to some
ancient writers, he died at sea.
Terenti, considers the year 185 BC to be the year Terentius was born; Fenestella , on the other hand, states that he was
born ten years earlier, in 195 BC. He was born into a middle class family but died a wealthy man due to the revenue that his plays had gotten him.
He may have been born in or near Carthage or in Greek Italy to a woman taken to
Carthage as a slave. Terence's cognomen Afer suggests he lived in the
territory of the Libyan tribe called by the Romans Afri near Carthage prior to being brought to Rome
as a slave.This inference is based on the fact that the term was used in two different ways
during the republican era: during Terence's lifetime, it was used to refer to
non-Carthaginian Libyco-Berbers, with the term Punicus reserved for the
Carthaginians. Later, after the destruction of Carthage in 146 BC, it was used to
refer to anyone from the land of the Afri (Tunisia and its surroundings). It is
therefore most likely that Terence was of Libyan
descent, considered ancestors to the modern-day Berber peoples.
In any case, he was sold to P. Terentius Lucanus, a
Roman senator, who educated him and later on, impressed
by Terence's abilities, freed him. Terence then took the nomen
"Terentius," which is the origin of the present form.
When he was 25, Terence left Rome and he never returned, after having
exhibited the six comedies which are still in existence. According to some
ancient writers, he died at sea.