Archipropheta (1547 Grimald), play

Archipropheta <Latin> / The Archprophet (1547) is a play by Nicholas Grimald.

Abstract

This Latin tragedy in five acts, which premiered at Oxford, England, derived mainly from Josephus and was set in the court of Herod Antipas. Through this almost Renaissance court stalks John the Baptist, burning with prophetic zeal, denouncing illicit marriage, and demanding moral purity above all. Grimald provided a purely romantic motive for the catastrophe in the passionate attachment of Herodias to Herod. There are 15 characters, among them Jehovah, John the Baptist, King Herod Antipas, a court fool, Herodias, and three choruses. The daughter of Herodias is here called Tryphera (the voluptuous); two “representative” Pharisees are named Philautus and Typhlus.

Editions, performances, translations

The ms. is preserved at the British Museum in London.