What were the names of Pliny's two villas on Lake Como?
Q: What were the names of Pliny's two villas on Lake Como?
A: The two villas owned by Pliny the Younger on Lake Como were called Villa Commedia and Villa Tragedia. In Italian, "commedia" means "comedy" and "tragedia" means "tragedy".
Q: Where was the Tragedy villa located?
A: Most people think that the Tragedy villa was in Bellagio, a small town on Lake Como.
Q: Where did Pliny say that the Comedy villa was located?
A: In his letter to Voconius Romanus Pliny wrote that the Comedy villa was right on the water's edge.
Q: What did Pliny compare each of his two favorite villas to?
A: Pliny compared the Tragedy villa to actors in tragedies who wore platform boots and he compared the Comedy villa to actors in comedies who wore flat slippers.
Q: Who thought that by 16th century,the Comedy Villa had been submerged under water near Lenno?
A: The historian Paolo Giovio (1483-1552) thought that by 16th century,the Comedy Villa had been submerged under water near Lenno.
Q: What did John Boyle do with regards to Pliny's letters?
A: In 1751 John Boyle, 5th Earl of Orrery published his English translation of Pliny's letters.
Q: What does Pierre de la Ruffinière du Prey suggest about Samuel Wale's drawing of the Comedy Villa?
A:The art historian Pierre de la Ruffinière du Prey has said that Samuel Wale's drawing of the Comedy Villa looks like Alexander Pope's villa on River Thames in London.
