Menaechimi
Menaechmi is a play written by Plautus and it is considered to be his best work. The play tells the story of the twin sons of Moschus, Menaechmus, and Sosicles. Moschus leaves on a business trip and takes Menaechmus with him. While on the trip Menaechmus is abducted and never seen again. Sosoicles is then renamed Menaechmus of Syracuse. When Menaechmus of Syracuse becomes a grown man he goes off in search of his brother. He arrives in Epidamnus unaware that the brother lives in the city.
The original Menaechmus has married a woman that he calls a shrew and a harpy. He decides to take her best mantle and give it to his mistress. He tells his friend Peniculus of his plan to give the mantle to his mistress Erotium. Menaechmus goes with Peniculus to Erotium and he presents her with the mantle. He tells Erotium to prepare a feast for him and Peniculus that night, in the meantime the men leave for drinks.
Menaechmus of Syracuse is walking by when Erotium comes out of her door and beckons him inside for dinner. Menaechmus is confused but decides to accept the offer of dinner with a beautiful woman and sends his servant on to the hotel. When Menaechmus of Syracus leaves dinner, he is met by Peniculus who berates him for eating dinner without him. Peniculus takes revenge by telling the wife of Menaechmus of the stolen mantle.
Menaechmus returns to Erotium to find his meal eaten and Erotium is angry at his request for more food. Then his angry wife demands the return of her mantle and Menaechmus promises to return it. Then he is approached by a furious Peniculus, all the while being completely confused. Finally, the two brothers run into each other and realize what has happened. Menaechmus decides to sell all his belongings, including his wife, in order to go live with his brother.