Achaios of Eretria (Ἀχαιός ὁ Ἐρετριεύς) was a 5th-century BCE tragedian from Euboea, a contemporary of Sophocles and Euripides. He began competing in Athenian dramatic contests around 447 BCE, winning at least one victory, and ancient sources note he was defeated in competitions by those leading dramatists [1][2]. Aelian records that he later served as a priest for the Dionysiac artists' guild in Athens [1].

Although none survive intact, the titles of approximately ten or eleven plays are known, including Aithon (likely a satyr play), Adrastos, Alkmaion, Hephaistos, Linos, Moirai, Oidipous, and Philoktetes [1][2].

Achaios was considered a notable tragedian after the three great masters. The ancient critic Heraclides of Pontus praised his satyr plays, stating he was second only to Aeschylus in that genre [1][2]. His fragmentary remains are significant for understanding the diversity of 5th-century Athenian tragedy and the development of satyr drama outside the preserved canonical works.

Sources 1. Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Classics: Achaios of Eretria: https://oxfordre.com/classics/view/10.1093/acrefore/9780199381135.001.0001/acrefore-9780199381135-e-20 2. Perseus Digital Library, Suda Encyclopedia, entry Alpha 4685: https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0057%3Aentry%3Da%29xai%3Dos2