Publii Terentii - Comoediae Expurgatae - 1782

Publius Terentius
Expurgated Comedies.
Interpretation and illustrated with notes
Josephus Juvencius of the Society of Jesus
An edition more extensive and improved than previous ones.
Venice, 1782, Sumptuary of the heir of Nicolai Pezzana.
By permission and privilege of the superiors.

Signature of affiliation
From others, Daniel Bonitatis

Pp.500

The book is an edition of the Commedia by Publio Terenzio Afro, one of the most famous Roman playwrights, who wrote comedic works during the 2nd century BC. This version, published in Venice in 1772, is one of the numerous critical editions of Terenzio's works produced during the 18th century, a period when the rediscovery of the classics and philology reached advanced levels of study.
The edition is enriched by the commentary of Giuseppe Giovenzi, a Jesuit who provided detailed interpretations of the works, supplementing them with philological and historical notes. Giovenzi was known for his ability to explain and analyze ancient texts in a way that made them understandable even to non-specialist readers, while maintaining scientific rigor. Additionally, the text is 'expurgated,' meaning it has been cleaned of passages considered inappropriate or controversial, following a tradition of 'purification' of classical texts that was common in many religious circles of the time, including orders like the Societas Jesu, to which Giovenzi belonged.
The work was printed in Venice by Heredi Nicolai Pezzana, a highly active printer of that period who published numerous editions of Latin and Greek classics. The quality of the printing and the critical apparatus denote the importance of this edition within the Venetian editorial tradition, known for its typographic care and philological accuracy. The volume also stands out for its ornamental border at the center of the title page, a decorative detail reflecting the highly fashionable Baroque style of the time. This edition is representative of the 18th-century period and academic culture, where the study of classical literature was central to educational paths and intellectual formation of the era. The publication was mainly intended for scholars, students, and enthusiasts of the Latin language, but also for a broader audience of classical culture enthusiasts.

Binding with signs of age, interior with stains, tears, and humidity, browning. (See photo).