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[German version] Attic author of Old Comedy [1. test. 1], the only play of his which is still known, the Τυμπανισταί, is the source for Aelian's quote of 10 trochaic short verses of a dancing song (fr. 1). The Suda's claim that A. also wrote τραγῳδίας πολλάς (‘many tragedies’) [1. test. 1], seems improbable, but is perhaps a reference to κωμῳδοτραγῳδίαι [2. 17212], i.e. a drama mixing comic and tragic elements, Lat. tragicomoedia. Hidber, Thomas (Berne) Bibliography 1 PCG IV, 1983, 18f. 2 Schmid/Stählin I 4, 1946, 172.

[German version] (Φιλόνικος; Philónikos). Comic poet of the transition period between Old and Middle Comedy, on the list of victors at the Lenaea after Philyllius with a victory around 390 [1. test. 2]. No fragments of his works are extant. Hidber, Thomas (Berne) Bibliography 1 PCG VII, 1989, 362.

[German version] (Ἀξιόνικος; Axiónikos) Poet of the Middle Comedy, of whose life nothing is known. The four play titles that are known (Τυρρηνός, Φιλευριπίδης, Φίλιννα, Χαλκιδικός) and the few fragments that have been preserved, suggest that A. belongs to the Middle Comedy [1; 2. 245ff.]. The monody of the cook in the style of Euripides in Φιλευριπίδης (fr. 4) is particularly characteristic: the comedy is evident less in the mockery of the tragic model and more in the contrast between the dithyrambic language and the everyday activity of preparing a meal [2. 246f.]. Hidber, Thomas (Be…

[German version] Poet of the New Comedy, dated by the Suda in the time of the two Diadochi, Antigonus I and Demetrius I ( c. 320-283 BC) -- apparently on the basis of a mention of both these in one play of A. [1. 299]. The titles of five plays have been preserved (Ἐγκαλυπτόμενος, Κεραυνός, Ἐπιδικαζόμενος, Κιθαρῳδός, Φρέαρ); of these the last three also appear in other representatives of the New Comedy [1. 302 ff.], as well as some shorter fragments and a longer fragment (fr.1) of 49 verses with the speech of a cook. Hidber, Thomas (Berne) Bibliography 1 PCG II, 1991, 299-306.

[German version] Writer of comedies, probably a contemporary of Alexis (second half of 4th to beginning of 3rd cent.) Like the latter, A. had written a Πρωτόχορος (two short fr. extant), and he or Alexis was regarded as the writer of the Ὁμοία quoted by Ath. 14 642cd. Whether one may conclude from this that both poets may have each written a Homoía [1. 308; 2], remains uncertain. However, the title Μεμψίμοιρος [1. 308] is well attested. Hidber, Thomas (Berne) Bibliography 1 PCG II, 1991, 308-310 2 PCG V, 1986, 144.

[German version] (Σωσίπατρος; Sōsípatros). Poet of New Comedy, known only from a 57-verse citation, preserved in Athenaeus, from the play Καταψευδόμενος ( Katapseudómenos, 'The Slanderer') [1]. In the fragment, a cook praises himself - in a dialogue with his interlocutor Demylus, presumably his employer - as one of the three greatest living exponents of his craft, which he depicts as a most exacting science based on astrology, architecture and strategy. Hidber, Thomas (Berne) Bibliography 1 PCG VII, 1989, 604-607.

[German version] (Σωγένης; Sōgénēs). Poet of New Comedy, reached the fifth rank at the Attic Dionysia in 183 BC with his play Φιλοδέσποτος ('His Master's Friend') [1]. Hidber, Thomas (Berne) Bibliography 1 PCG VII, 1989, 593.

[German version] (Ἡνίοχος; Hēníochos). Writer of Middle Comedy, of whose work the Suda still mentions eight titles:Τροχίλος (‘Trochílos’), Ἐπίκληρος (‘The daughter heiress’), Γοργόνες (‘The Gorgons’), Πολυπράγμων (‘The Busybody’), Θωρύκιον (‘Thōrýkion’), Πολύευκτος (‘Polýeuktos’), Φιλέταιρος (‘Philhétairos’), Δὶς ἐξαπατώμενος (‘The Twice Deceived’) [1. test. 1]. Apart from the scanty remains of these plays preserved by Athenaeus (at least the dithyrambizing language of fr. 1 [2. 262] is noteworthy)…

[German version] (Δεξικράτης; Dexikrátēs). Comedy writer of the 3rd cent. BC and hence belonging to the New Comedy if his name is correctly supplied on the epigraphical list of Lenaean victors [1. test. *2]. Ath. 3,124b cites two verses from the play Ὑφ' ἑαυτῶν πλανώμενοι (fr. 1); the Suda article is based on this passage, and the addition that D. was an Athenian was probably a conclusion drawn from this [1. test. 1]. A brief mention is also to be found in the work of the grammarian Herodian (fr. 2). Hidber, Thomas (Berne) Bibliography 1 PCG V, 1986, 16.

[German version] (Ναυσικράτης; Nausikrát ēs). Poet of Middle Comedy, in the list of the victors at the Lenaea he is mentioned two places after Antiphanes and two places ahead of Alexis with three victories [1. test. 2]. Athenaeus quotes short passages from N.'s pieces Ναύκληροι ( Naúklēroi) and Περσίς ( Persís), among them culinary riddles possibly by a cook (fr. 1) [2. 259]. In the excerpts in Herodian, N. is quoted as proof of a certain imperative form (εὕρηκε; fr. 3). The mention of a certain comic poet or actor with this name by the orator Aeschines probably also refers to N. [1. test. 3]. Hid…

[German version] (Σωσικράτης; Sōsikrátēs). Greek comic poet, attested exclusively in others' writings, by all appearances belonging to New Comedy. Pollux quotes three verses from the play Παρακαταθήκη ( Parakatathḗkē, 'The Pledge'), Athenaeus three from the Φιλάδελφοι ( Philádelphoi, 'The Fond Brothers'), Stobaeus two verses and the Suda the gloss ἀμφίας from unknown comedies [1]. Hidber, Thomas (Berne) Bibliography 1 PCG VII, 1989, 600-602.

[German version] Attic poet of the Old Comedy, from whose productions seven titles of works and some short fragments are still extant. A. achieved second place in the Dionysia in the year 423 BC, behind Cratinus and ahead of Aristophanes (first, ‘Clouds’) [1. test. 5a]. He likewise had the victory in 414 in the Dionysia ahead of Aristophanes (‘Birds’) and Phrynichus [1. 203] and was victorious a further time in the Dionysia as well as once in the Lenaea [1. test. 3,4]. In the opinion of his rival Aristophanes, A. was a coarse comedian [1. test. 6]. Hidber, Thomas (Berne) Bibliography 1 PCG II,…

[German version] (Σώσιππος; Sṓsippos). Comic poet from an undetermined period, mentioned only in Athenaeus, who introduced a citation of 8 verses with the remark: Diphilus or S. says in his Ἀπολείπουσα ( The runaway) ... [1]. The fragment itself is more often ascribed to the better known Diphilus, particularly as his play of the same name is attested several times [2]. Hidber, Thomas (Berne) Bibliography 1 PCG VII, 1989, 608 2 PCG V, 1986, 58-61.

[German version] (Δημόνικος; Dēmónikos). Writer of comedies of unknown date, perhaps the 4th cent. BC [1]. D. is only attested in Ath. 9,410c where four verses are quoted from the piece Ἀχελῶιος ( Achelôios) that describe hospitality extended to a voracious Boeotian (perhaps Hercules) (fr. 1). Hidber, Thomas (Berne) Bibliography 1 PCG V, 1986, 14.

[German version] Earlier thought to be a writer of comedies because of a transcription error in Ath. 15,668c, where three lines are quoted from Κάλλιπος ἐν Παννυχίδι (‘C. in the Pannychís). Since the appearance of the PBerolinensis 13417 with the rest of the drinking poem Pannychís by  Callimachus [3], including the lines quoted by Athenaeus, there can be no doubt that the phrase in question should read Καλλίμαχος [1; 2]. Hidber, Thomas (Berne) Bibliography 1 A. Körte, s.v. C. (18), RE 10, 1667 2 R. Pfeiffer, Callimachus I, 1949, 217 (F 227).

[German version] (Σατυρίων/ Satyríōn). Poet of New Comedy (3rd century BC), known only from an epigraphic mention in the list of victors at the Dionysia, in which S. appears with one victory [1]. Hidber, Thomas (Berne) Bibliography 1 PCG VII, 1989, 590.

[German version] (Μνασικλῆς; Mnasiklês). Attic poet of New Comedy, who was given the task of composing an inscription in honour of the technítai of Dionysus (c. 130 BC) [1]. His entire work has been lost. Hidber, Thomas (Berne) Bibliography 1 PCG 7, 1989, 15.

(Διεύχης; Dieúchēs). [German version] [1] Physician and author of medical texts Physician and author of medical texts in the 4th and possibly even the early 3rd cent. BC. He viewed the human body from the perspective of the four elementary qualities (Gal. 10,452), approved of bloodletting (11,163) and was positively disposed towards anatomy (11,795). He became particularly respected for his methods of treatment (Gal. 10,28; 11,795), especially because of greater care in prescribing dangerous medication (Or…

(Νεάνθης; Neánthēs). [German version] [1] Of Cyzicus, Greek author of uncertain date N. of Cyzicus. References to and some fragments of the following works under this name are preserved (FGrH 84): a Greek history (Ἑλληνικά, Hellēniká), a history of Attalus [4] I of Pergamum (Περὶ Ἄτταλον ἱστορίαι, Perì Áttalon historíai), writings on the myths and history of the city of Cyzicus (Τὰ κατὰ πόλιν μυθικά, Ὧροι Κυζικηνῶν, Ta katà pólin mythiká, Hȏroi Kyzikēnȏn), a biographical collection ‘On famous men (Περὶ ἐνδόξων ἀνδρῶν, Perì endóxōn andrȏn), a piece on mysteries and cults (Περὶ τελετῶν, P…

(Μνησίμαχος; Mnēsímachos). [German version] [1] Poet of Middle Comedy A comic poet whom both Athenaeus and the Suda attribute to Middle Comedy [1. test. 1, 2]. His name is on the victors' list of the Lenaean festival, immediately after Antiphanes [1. test. 3], and his creative period extends from the 360's into the  340's BC [2]. We still have the titles of seven of his plays: Ἀλκμαίων (or -έων), Βούσιρις, Δύσκολος, Ἱπποτρόφος, Ἰσθμιονίκης, Φαρμακοπώλης, Φίλιππος ( Alkmaíōn/éōn, Boúsiris, Dýskolos, Hippótrophos, Isthmioníkēs, Pharmakopṓlēs, Phílippos). By far the longest fra…