Antiphanes (comic poet)

Antiphanes
Native name
Ἀντιφάνης
Bornc. 408 BCE
Died334 BCE (aged c. 74)
OccupationPlaywright
NationalityAncient Greek
PeriodMiddle Comedy
GenreComedy
Notable works365 comedies (140 titles known)
Notable awards13 victories in dramatic competitions, including 8 at the Lenaea
ChildrenStephanus (also a comic writer)

Antiphanes (Ancient Greek: Ἀντιφάνης; c. 408 to 334 BCE) was a playwright of Middle Comedy. According to Heinz-Günther Nesselrath, he is regarded as one of the most important writers of Middle Comedy alongside Alexis.[1]

Antiphanes was said to have written as many as 365 comedies, and 140 titles of his works are known.[1] His first play was produced about 385 BC.[2] According to the Suda, he won 13 victories in dramatic competitions, including 8 at the Lenaea.[2] In his later career he was a pioneer of the New Comedy.[1] Demetrius of Phalerum and Dorotheus of Ascalon wrote treatises on Antiphanes.[1]

According to the Suda, Antiphanes died after being struck by a pear.[3][4]

His son, Stephanus, was also a comic writer.[1]

  1. ^ a b c d e Nesselrath, Heinz-Günther (2006). "Antiphanes [1]". Brill's New Pauly. doi:10.1163/1574-9347_bnp_e124990.
  2. ^ a b Dover, Kenneth James (2012). "Antiphanes". Oxford Classical Dictionary (4th ed.).
  3. ^ "Suda α 2735". www.cs.uky.edu. Retrieved 2024-06-08.
  4. ^ Baldi, Dino (2010). Morti favolose degli antichi (in Italian). Quodlibet. p. 50. ISBN 978-8874623372.