παντομίμης, among the ancients, a person who could imitate all kind of actions and characters by signs and gestures without speaking.

The pantomimes made a part in the theatrical entertainments of the ancients; their chief employment was to express, in gestures and action, whatever the chorus sung, changing their countenance and behaviour as the subject of the song varied. They were very ancient in Greece, being derived from the heroic times, according to some; but however this may be, they were certainly known in Plato's time. In Rome, it was so late as the time of Augustus before they made their appearance. As to their dress, it was various, being always suited as near as possible to that of the person they were to imitate. The crocota was much used among the Roman pantomimes, in which and other female dresses they represented women.

We have this account of them in Gibbon's history:

"The pantomimes (a), who maintained their reputation from the age of Augustus to the fifth century, expressed, without the use of words, the various fables of the gods and heroes of antiquity; and the perfection of their art, which sometimes alarmed the gravity of the philosopher, always excited the applause and wonder of the people. The vast and magnificent theatres of Rome were filled by 3000 female dancers, and by 3000 singers, with the masters of the respective choruses. Such was the popular favour which they enjoyed, that in a time of scarcity, when all strangers were banished from the city, the merit of contributing to the public pleasures exempted them from a law which was strictly executed against the professors of the liberal arts (b)."

Pantomimes are still very common in England; they differ indeed in some respects from those of antiquity; but they retain the name, and like these they consist in the representations of things merely by gestures.