Note 18 — Chapter I · THE FALL OF THE THEATRES

This is not wholly so, at any rate in Tacitus, who seems to include the players both of mimes and of Atellanes amongst histriones (Ann. i. 73; iv. 14). For the origin of the name, cf. Livy, vii. 2 ‘ister Tusco verbo ludius vocabatur.’ Besides ludius, actor is good Latin. But it is generally used in some such phrase as actor primarum personarum, protagonist, and by itself often means dominus gregis, manager of the grex or company. Mimus signifies both performer and performance, pantomimus the performer only. He is said saltare fabulas.