fabula praetext

The fabula praetexta was a genre of ancient Roman drama that drew its themes from Roman history or legend. These plays were named after the praetexta, a toga with a purple border worn by Roman magistrates and boys of noble birth, symbolizing their status.1

Gnaeus Naevius is credited with originating the fabula praetexta. He wrote at least two such plays: Romulus, likely about the legendary founder of Rome, and Clastidium, which celebrated a military victory. While many Roman plays were adaptations of Greek dramas, the fabula praetexta was distinctly Roman in its subject matter. The genre provided a way to explore Roman history and mythology through dramatic performance.231