fabula praetexta

praetexta, fabula, in Roman literature, a drama which derived its subject from Roman history. The name is derived from the toga praetexta, the bordered toga which the famous Romans who were presented in the plays were entitled to wear by reason of holding high office. (See also TOGATA.) The invention of the fabula praetexta is attributed to Naevius. Only one complete praetexta survives, the tragedy Octavia, and fragments of or references to eleven others, such as the Clastidium of Naevius (on the exploits of M. Claudius Marcellus, winner of the spolia opima in single combat against a Gaul in 222 BC), the Rape of the Sabines of Ennius, the Brutus of Accius, and the Aeneas of Pomponius Secundus.