Aristophanes of Byzantium

Thomas R. Coward (George Mason University)

Ed. by Emily Kneebone, University of Nottingham
The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.1.1: Greek Writing and Culture: Archaic, Classical, Hellenistic and Imperial, -800--100.
Vol. editors: Jonathan Burgess (University of Toronto), Anca Dan (École Practique de Hautes Études PSL), Martine Diepenbroek (University of Johannesburg), Giacomo Fedeli (University of Exeter), Victoria Fendel (University of Oxford), Emily Kneebone (University of Nottingham), Vaios Liapis (Open University of Cyprus), Elodie Paillard (University of Sydney), Mali Skotheim (Ashoka University), Laura Swift (The Open University), Guendalina Daniela Maria Taietti (University of Liverpool)

Dates

Born c. -265
Died c. -190

Places

Active in Ancient Greece; Egypt

Activities

Primary

Editor
Librarian

Resources

Aristophanes' Works

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Aristophanes of Byzantium (265/257–190/180 BC) was the head of the Library at Alexandria (

204/1-189/6). He was famous for his linguistic, literary, textual, and antiquarian researches, and was credited with the innovation of Greek accentuation and colometry. He produced “editions” of poets from Homer to Menander, and several monographs and treatises. His works, however, only survive in fragments.

Biography

Biography

Aristophanes was the son of Apelles, a mercenary commander. He was born in Byzantium but resided in Alexandria. It is believed that he was a student of Zenodotus and Callimachus (T1 Slater), Eratosthenes (T5), Dionysius Iambus (T1), Euphronius (T14), and Machon, a comic writer (T1, T13b Slater). While he may not actually have studied under all these persons, it is more

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5832 words

Citation: Coward, Thomas R.. "Aristophanes of Byzantium". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 01 November 2017 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=13940, accessed 22 November 2024.]