Galeria Copiola
Encyclopedia
Galeria Copiola was an ancient Roman dancer (emboliara) whom Pliny
includes in a list of notable female nonagenarians and centenarian
s in his Natural History. Because of Pliny's notice, Galeria is one of the few performing artists in classical antiquity
whose career milestones can be precisely dated.
, the embolium (Latin
, plural embolia) in which Galeria specialized was an interlude, probably solo, performed by a dancing girl or mima. The embolium is treated in modern scholarship as a form of ballet
-pantomime requiring turns, leaping, versatility of movement, sudden "freezing," and a particular repertoire of hand gestures.
The embolium interlude was part of the mixed musical-comedy genre called mimus. Roman mimus was regularly performed without masks, in contrast to virtually every other form of ancient theatre for which female roles were performed by men. Mimus gave women opportunities to earn a living as professional entertainers, and Galeria's career is evidence of the long-lived acclaim and financial reward they might achieve. Galeria Copiola is one of only four performers of embolia whose names are preserved, the others being Sophê Theorobathylliana, Phoebe Vocontia, and an Oppius who is the only recorded male embolarius.
Galeria made her stage debut in 82 BC at the age of 13 or 14, during Sulla's dictatorship
, in a theatrical event produced by the plebeian aedile Marcus Pomponius. The occasion was either the Feast of Ceres
in April or the Plebeian Games
in November. A Roman girl came of age at around 12 to 14, and entertainers seem to have begun their career at this time.
Galeria's renown was such that when the dedication ceremonies were held for the monumental Theatre of Pompey
in 55 BC, she was brought out of retirement as a "living legend." A number of former luminaries of the stage appeared, among them the aging actor Aesopus
, whose performance fell short of the reputation he had earned in his prime. Cicero
, who attended, remarked, without naming Galeria specifically, that it might have been better for the older entertainers to have rested on their laurels. Galeria was about 40 at the time. Since she was still physically able to perform, and enjoyed good enough health to live to a remarkable old age, her retirement must have been by choice, enabled by significant earnings.
Galeria's last public appearance was at the votive games (ludi
) celebrated in honor of Augustus
in 9 AD, when she was 104. Pliny says nothing about the performance itself, or whether she appeared only as a guest of honor.
Pliny the Elder
Gaius Plinius Secundus , better known as Pliny the Elder, was a Roman author, naturalist, and natural philosopher, as well as naval and army commander of the early Roman Empire, and personal friend of the emperor Vespasian...
includes in a list of notable female nonagenarians and centenarian
Centenarian
A centenarian is a person who is or lives beyond the age of 100 years. Because current average life expectancies across the world are less than 100, the term is invariably associated with longevity. Much rarer, a supercentenarian is a person who has lived to the age of 110 or more, something only...
s in his Natural History. Because of Pliny's notice, Galeria is one of the few performing artists in classical antiquity
Classical antiquity
Classical antiquity is a broad term for a long period of cultural history centered on the Mediterranean Sea, comprising the interlocking civilizations of ancient Greece and ancient Rome, collectively known as the Greco-Roman world...
whose career milestones can be precisely dated.
Performance genre
The embolimon (Greek, literally an "insert") was a musical number performed between the acts of a play. In Roman theatreTheatre of ancient Rome
The theatre of ancient Rome was a thriving and diverse art form, ranging from festival performances of street theatre, nude dancing, and acrobatics, to the staging of Plautus's broadly appealing situation comedies, to the high-style, verbally elaborate tragedies of Seneca...
, the embolium (Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
, plural embolia) in which Galeria specialized was an interlude, probably solo, performed by a dancing girl or mima. The embolium is treated in modern scholarship as a form of ballet
History of ballet
Ballet is a formalized form of dance with its origins in the Italian Renaissance courts of the 15th and 16th centuries. It quickly spread to the French court of Catherine de' Medici where it was developed even further...
-pantomime requiring turns, leaping, versatility of movement, sudden "freezing," and a particular repertoire of hand gestures.
The embolium interlude was part of the mixed musical-comedy genre called mimus. Roman mimus was regularly performed without masks, in contrast to virtually every other form of ancient theatre for which female roles were performed by men. Mimus gave women opportunities to earn a living as professional entertainers, and Galeria's career is evidence of the long-lived acclaim and financial reward they might achieve. Galeria Copiola is one of only four performers of embolia whose names are preserved, the others being Sophê Theorobathylliana, Phoebe Vocontia, and an Oppius who is the only recorded male embolarius.
Career
Roman dictator
In the Roman Republic, the dictator , was an extraordinary magistrate with the absolute authority to perform tasks beyond the authority of the ordinary magistrate . The office of dictator was a legal innovation originally named Magister Populi , i.e...
, in a theatrical event produced by the plebeian aedile Marcus Pomponius. The occasion was either the Feast of Ceres
Cerealia
In ancient Roman religion, the Cerealia was the major festival celebrated for the grain goddess Ceres. It was held for seven days from mid- to late April, but the dates are uncertain....
in April or the Plebeian Games
Ludi Plebeii
The Ludi Plebeii were a religious festival held in ancient Rome in the middle of November, originally from 16–18 November. It consisted of theatrical performances and games....
in November. A Roman girl came of age at around 12 to 14, and entertainers seem to have begun their career at this time.
Galeria's renown was such that when the dedication ceremonies were held for the monumental Theatre of Pompey
Theatre of Pompey
The Theatre of Pompey was a structure in Ancient Rome built during the later part of the Roman Republican era. It was completed in seven years, starting from 55 BC, and was dedicated early in 52 BC before the structure was fully completed...
in 55 BC, she was brought out of retirement as a "living legend." A number of former luminaries of the stage appeared, among them the aging actor Aesopus
Clodius Aesopus
Clodius Aesopus was the most celebrated tragic actor of Ancient Rome in time of Cicero, that is, the 1st century BC, but the dates of his birth and death are not known...
, whose performance fell short of the reputation he had earned in his prime. Cicero
Cicero
Marcus Tullius Cicero , was a Roman philosopher, statesman, lawyer, political theorist, and Roman constitutionalist. He came from a wealthy municipal family of the equestrian order, and is widely considered one of Rome's greatest orators and prose stylists.He introduced the Romans to the chief...
, who attended, remarked, without naming Galeria specifically, that it might have been better for the older entertainers to have rested on their laurels. Galeria was about 40 at the time. Since she was still physically able to perform, and enjoyed good enough health to live to a remarkable old age, her retirement must have been by choice, enabled by significant earnings.
Galeria's last public appearance was at the votive games (ludi
Ludi
Ludi were public games held for the benefit and entertainment of the Roman people . Ludi were held in conjunction with, or sometimes as the major feature of, Roman religious festivals, and were also presented as part of the cult of state.The earliest ludi were horse races in the circus...
) celebrated in honor of Augustus
Augustus
Augustus ;23 September 63 BC – 19 August AD 14) is considered the first emperor of the Roman Empire, which he ruled alone from 27 BC until his death in 14 AD.The dates of his rule are contemporary dates; Augustus lived under two calendars, the Roman Republican until 45 BC, and the Julian...
in 9 AD, when she was 104. Pliny says nothing about the performance itself, or whether she appeared only as a guest of honor.