Aristagoras was a comic poet active in Athens during the 5th century BCE, the period known as Old Comedy. Beyond this basic identification, no details of his life, birthplace, or personal history have survived. His name and profession are recorded solely in later ancient catalogs.
He is credited with two comedies, known only by their titles: Hymn to the Nymphs and Theseus. Both works are completely lost, with no fragments of the text surviving. The titles suggest he used mythological themes, a common practice in the inventive and often satirical plays of his era.
Aristagoras is a representative figure of the many minor poets whose works filled the vibrant Athenian theater scene but did not survive antiquity. His inclusion in historical records indicates he was part of the literary tradition remembered by later scholars. While the complete loss of his texts means he holds no significant literary standing today, his recorded existence helps modern historians understand the scale and variety of classical Greek comedy.
Available Works
Sources
- Academic Source (Uky (cs.uky.edu)) Accessed: 2026-01-26
- Perseus Entry (Perseus Digital Library) Accessed: 2026-01-26
- ToposText Entry (ToposText) Accessed: 2026-01-26