Abstract
The inspiration drawn from the classic models as from the contemporary authors has been embodied in the literary creation since the early modern times. Seneca Tragicus is obviously among the major models of theatre and this holds true for the Jesuit theatre as well.
But even if the Senecan reception is relatively well explored in western Europe, little attention has been paid to it in Czech countries. However, it is logical to suppose that this phenomenon was as important there as it was in western Europe.
This paper concentrates on the role and forms of the Senecan impact on the Jesuit theatre on the example of Arnoldus Engel S. J. (1620-1690), Jesuit professor and author of several plays extant in the integral text, who claims the authority of the Roman master.