Philyllius
Athenian poet of Middle Comedy

Philyllius

The basics
Quick facts
Intro
Athenian poet of Middle Comedy
Gender:
Male
Places:
Work field:
Birth:
(Athens, Greece)
Biography menu
Menu

Jump to

Introduction List of plays
The details
Biography

Introduction

Philyllius (Ancient Greek: Φιλύλλιος), also called Phillylius, Phlaeus, Philolaus, or Phillydeus, was an ancient Athenian comic poet. He was contemporary with Diocles and Sannyrion. He belonged to the latter part of the Old Comedy tradition and the beginning of the Middle Comedy tradition. He seems to have attained to some distinction before 392 BC, when the Ecclesiazusae of Aristophanes was acted.

All titles of his plays evidently belong to Middle Comedy. He is said to have introduced some scenic innovations, such as bringing lighted torches on the stage. With regard to his language, Augustus Meineke mentions a few words and phrases in his plays, which are not pure Attic.

List of plays

The Suda and Eudocia gave titles of his plays:

  • Aigeus
  • Auge
  • Anteia
  • Dodekate ("The Twelfth Woman")
  • Herakles ("Hercules")
  • Pluntria, or Nausikaa
  • Polis ("The City")
  • Phreorykhos ("The Well-Digger")
  • Atalante
  • Helene