Epilycus was a comic poet from ancient Greece, active in the 5th century BCE during the period known as Old Comedy. He is an extremely obscure figure, and no details about his personal life or background have survived.
He is known only for a single lost play titled Kōraliskos (meaning "Little Girl" or "Doll"). His sole historical importance comes from a later scholarly note on the works of the famous playwright Aristophanes. According to this ancient source, Aristophanes borrowed a key fantastical idea for his own comedy Peace—the hero's flight to heaven on a giant dung beetle—from Epilycus's earlier play.
This single reference provides a rare glimpse into how comic poets of the era influenced one another. While Epilycus's own work is completely lost, his name is preserved as an example of the many minor playwrights whose contributions are now known only through their impact on more famous contemporaries.
Available Works
Sources
- Perseus Entry (Perseus Digital Library) Accessed: 2026-01-26
- ToposText Entry (ToposText) Accessed: 2026-01-26