Timotheus the Comic Poet of Athens (Τιμόθεος ὁ Ἀθηναῖος κωμῳδιοποιός)

Life Timotheus was an Athenian comic poet active in the 4th century BCE, known only from limited ancient references. The Suda lexicon identifies him as a contemporary of the orator Demosthenes (384–322 BCE), placing his floruit in the mid-to-late 4th century [1]. He is distinguished from other figures named Timotheus, such as the dithyrambic poet from Miletus, by his Athenian origin and genre.

Works Two play titles are attributed to him: Dionysus (Διόνυσος) and The Heroes (Ἥρωες) [1]. Both works are lost, and no fragments are preserved in the extant sources.

Significance Timotheus represents one of the many minor comic poets of 4th-century Athens. His attestation illustrates the breadth of Attic comic production during the era following Old Comedy and overlapping with the development of Middle and New Comedy. While his specific content is unknown, his recorded activity contributes to the historical record of Athenian drama during a period of significant political change.

Sources 1. Suda Online, "Timotheos" (The Stoa Consortium): https://www.cs.uky.edu/~raphael/sol/sol-entries/tau/583