The First Known Ghost Story: Plautus’ The Haunted House

When we think of ghost stories, modern horror books or films usually come to mind. However, the love for ghost tales goes back centuries, even to Ancient Rome.

 One of the earliest known ghost stories comes from the Roman playwright Plautus (205-184 B.C.), who wrote the comedy Mostellaria, or The Haunted House.

Plautus’ Mostellaria is considered one of the first known “horror comedies.”  The plot revolves around a clever slave who tries to deceive his master by convincing him that their house is haunted by a ghost. This trick is used to cover up the fact that the servant hosted a wild party in his master’s absence.

Ghost stories weren’t unfamiliar to the Romans. Like many ancient civilizations, they believed in the existence of spirits and supernatural forces. The Romans observed specific festivals, such as Parentalia and Lemuria, during which they performed rituals to appease the spirits of death,something like Helloween parties nowdays.

Although Mostellaria is not a classic horror story by today’s standards, it sets the stage for blending comedy with supernatural elements, a combination that remains popular in contemporary films and TV shows.

 Furthermore, it highlights that fascination with the unseen and the paranormal is not a modern phenomenon, but one deeply rooted in human history and culture.

If you’re a fan of ghost stories, now you know that even the Ancient Romans believed in dark creatures and enjoyed a good “scary” tale and the prof that modern man’s nature didn’t change trough time.

Plautus’ Mostellaria is one of the earliest examples of how the fear of the unknown can be turned into humor.

His story of The Haunted House is the perfect mix of comedy and the supernatural, making it just as interesting and relevant today, especially as Halloween approaches. Did You know?