Aristophon the Comic Poet (Ἀριστοφῶν ὁ κωμικός)

Life Aristophon was an Athenian comic poet of the 4th century BCE, active during the period of Middle Comedy. The Byzantine Suda identifies him as the son of Aristophanes, though modern scholars consider this a probable confusion with the famous playwright of Old Comedy [1]. The same source records that he wrote 105 comedies, a figure unsupported by extant evidence [1].

Works Only two play titles are securely attested from fragments: Plutus (Wealth) and Pythagorizousa (The Female Pythagorean) [1]. All his works are otherwise lost.

Significance Aristophon is a minor figure known only through fragments. His significance lies in his classification within Middle Comedy, a transitional phase between Old and New Comedy. The titles of his plays suggest engagement with typical Middle Comic themes, such as social types and mythological parody, contributing to the fragmentary scholarly understanding of this period [1][2].

Sources 1. Suda, Alpha 3933 (via Suda On Line): https://www.cs.uky.edu/~raphael/sol/sol-entries/alpha/3933 2. Encyclopædia Britannica, "Greek Literature: Middle Comedy": https://www.britannica.com/art/Greek-literature/Middle-Comedy