The Place, the Pimp, the Profit: Puns on the Procurer’s Name in Plautus’ Poenulus

This article reveals eight heretofore undiscussed puns on the pimp’s name, Lucus (from Λύκος, “Mr. Wolf”). Three of these puns were original to Alexis, author of the Greek comedy Plautus used as a model for Poenulus. Five puns, however, are originals ascribable to the Umbrian. Of these, four are crucial to our understanding of the entrapment scheme whereby Lucus is enticed to commit robbery.