Philippides (comic poet)

Philippides (Ancient Greek: Φιλιππίδης) was an Athenian poet of the Greek New Comedy. He was the son of Philokles of Kephale and was active during the 111th Olympiad (c. 336-333 BCE).^[1] Aulus Gellius records that he died at an advanced old age from the joy of an unexpected victory at a dramatic competition.^[2] He was a great personal friend (philos) of King Lysimachus (i.e. "successor" of Alexander the Great ) Philippides is reported as having had great influence with Lysimachus. In 285 BC Athens passed a decree to honor Philippides for his continuous requests to Lysimachus for aid to recover Piraeus and the forts. In 286/285 BC Philippides was elected agonothetes.^[3]

Surviving titles and fragments[edit]

The Suda reports that Philippides produced 45 plays. Only the titles of 16 plays (along with associated fragments) have survived.

References[edit]