Phrynichus (/ˈfrɪnɪkəs/; ‹See Tfd›Greek: Φρύνιχος), son of Polyphradmon and pupil of Thespis, was one of the earliest of the Greek tragedians.[1] Some ancients regarded him as the real founder of tragedy.[2] Phrynichus is said to have died in Sicily. His son Polyphrasmon was also a playwright.
Phrynichus wrote two out of the three known Greek tragedies that dealt with contemporary history from episodes from the Persian Wars (no longer extant).