Reading not your thing? You can also listen to the Old Pros podcast episode on Lycoris the Mime found here
Of course old pros were major players in ancient Rome. Many old pros were able to rise to prominent positions and exert influence in extremely patriarchal societies because of their proximity to power. Famous performer and courtesan, Lycoris, would go on become Marc Antony’s recognized partner and confidant-until she was forced out by a whorphobic prude-Cicero. It’s a great story.
Volumina Cytheris, also known as Lycoris the Mime, was born into slavery around 70 BCE. Lycoris was trained as a mime and actress by her enslaver, Publius Voluminous Eutrapleus, an avid theater lover and patron. Lycoris’ training in the performing arts and courtesan began early. Lycoris likely performed sex acts both for her master and for his guests, which was common for actresses and enslaved performers during this period.
Most professional actors were men who played both male and female parts. The only exceptions were mime’s. Mime’s during this period were closer to stand up comics or vaudeville performers than the silent French clowns we associate with the name now. Mimes sang, danced, made mythological references, told bawdy jokes, performed strip teases, made political jokes in a mostly improvised performance at parties, and public events.
Mime’s had a special place in Roman society as they were associated with the goddess Flora, goddess of flowers and blossoming plants. Mimes traveled to Flora’s temple from all over the empire to attend the annual festival Floralia, which was celebrated April 28th- May 3rd, in her honor. Sex workers of all stations celebrated Floralia with games, performing nude, and engaging in what their contemporaries described as licentous behavior. In the Circus Maximus deer and hares, symbols of fertility, were let loose and the crowd were thrown chickpeas in honor of the goddess on her festival days.
Much of what we know about Lycoris is because of her powerful, well documented and infamous clientele. In 49 BCE, she began an affair with Mark Antony after he was appointed 2nd in command of the Roman army. Because it was unbecoming of an officer to socialize with other people’s slaves, Lycoris was freed by her master and became an actress but remained part of Publius Voluminous’ entourage and social circle.
Lycoris was a famous and charismatic performer in her own right and may have helped shape Marc Antony’s ascent to power. He honored her as his partner by having her accompany him, by his side on his chariot when he was representing Caesar as the most powerful man in Italy. He introduced her to people by her proper name as though she were a lady. Cicero, and many other prudish, powerful men were incensed. Hearing complaints, Caesar ordered Antony to end the relationship. Antony would later go on to kill Cicero for presumably unrelated reasons.
Lycoris continued working as a courtesan and maintained her political clients and influence. Marcus Brutus, later assassin of Julius Caesar, was one of her regular clients.
After Caesar’s assasination she seamlessly assimilated into the new court, rising once again to fame after an affair with Cornelius Gallus, a politician-soldier who authored four books of poetry dedicated to her. Gallus identified his muse by her stage name, Lycoris. Gallus’ poetry was published in Virgil‘s tenth Eclogue, and was enormously popular.
There’s no mention of Lycoris the Mime in the historical record after Gallus’ poetry about her. She may have continued working as a courtesan, keeping relationships with various politicians and soldiers. For the next 300 years, actresses and mimes were known as “Lycoris” so it’s possible that she continued to perform and mentor young actresses and mimes. There is a legend that she began an affair with a Roman general and lived out her days at his side. We may never know what happened to the real life Lycoris, but her impact on the Roman, and therefore the Western, world is undeniable.
