Biography.guide
Home › People › Comedy writer › Phrynichus
Portrait of Phrynichus

Phrynichus

5th-century BC Greek poet of Old Attic comedy

Comedy writerWriter
Don't just read it — keep itBiographies to ownE-book · Audio · Video From $7 →

About Phrynichus

Phrynichus was a Greek comedy writer and writer.

Phrynichus (; ) was a poet of the Old Attic comedy and a contemporary of Aristophanes. His first comedy was exhibited in 429 BC. He composed ten plays, of which the Recluse was exhibited at the City Dionysia in 414 along with the Birds of Aristophanes and gained the third prize. His Muses carried off the second prize at the Lenaia in 405, Aristophanes being first with the Frogs, in which he accuses Phrynichus of employing vulgar tricks to raise a laugh, of plagiarism and bad versification, and of lowbrow politics.

Surviving titles and fragments The surviving 86 fragments of his work may be found in , Comicorum atticorum fragmenta (Teubner, 1880).

Ephialtes ("Ephialtes") Konnos Kronos ("Cronus") Komastai ("Revellers") Monotropos ("The Recluse") Mousai ("The Muses") Mystai ("The Initiated Women") Poastriai ("Ladies Who Weed the Fields") Satyroi ("The Satyrs") Tragodoi ("Tragic Actors"), or Apeleutheroi ("Liberated Slaves")

Biography shop

Don’t just read it —
keep it.

Full-length biographies made to live with: read them, listen on the way to work, watch them tonight.

  • E-book
  • Audio
  • Video
Browse the shop — from $7

Instant download · yours to keep · every purchase keeps this site free

Important facts

Born
Athens
Died
Athens
Occupation
Comedy writer, writer
Nationality

Frequently asked questions

Who was Phrynichus?

5th-century BC Greek poet of Old Attic comedy

When was Phrynichus born?

Phrynichus was born in Athens.

When did Phrynichus die?

Phrynichus died in Athens.

What was Phrynichus's occupation?

Phrynichus was a comedy writer and writer.

What nationality was Phrynichus?

Phrynichus was Greek.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Phrynichus

· Wikidata: Q2089113

· DBpedia: Phrynichus (comic poet)

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Phrynichus. https://biography.guide/phrynichus-comedy-writer/

MLA: "Phrynichus." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/phrynichus-comedy-writer/.

Chicago: "Phrynichus." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/phrynichus-comedy-writer/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

Page generated 2026-09-27 05:00 UTC