Eupolis

Eupolis (ca. 446 BC – 411 BC) was an Athenian poet of the Old Comedy, who flourished during the time of the Peloponnesian War.

Biography

Nothing whatever is known of his personal history. There are few sources on when he first appeared on the stage. A short history of Greek Comedy, written by an anonymous writer of antiquity, reports that Eupolis first produced in the year where Apollodorus was the Eponymous archon, which would be 430-429 BC. The same source claims Phrynichus also debuted that year. The Chronicon of Eusebius of Caesarea instead places his debut in 428-427 BC and adds that Aristophanes also started producing that year. This is the version preserved in the Latin translation by Jerome. But the Armenian translation places the event in 427-426 BC.

Cyril of Alexandria placed the debut of Eupolis at some point between 428 and 424 BC. Placing the debuts of Aristophanes and Plato the comic poet within the same period. George Syncellus gives the same dates, but merely states that Eupolis and Aristophanes were becoming prominent, not when they debuted. Syncellus extends the phrase to include Sophocles. Sophocles had actually become the pre-eminent playwright in Athens c. 456 BC, when Aeschylus died.

Based on the primary sources above, modern historians conclude that Eupolis debuted in the 420s BC, probably in 429 BC. His first production was probably at the Lenaia, the lesser theatrical festival of his time. The Lenaia are thought to have allowed novices to compete, so they could prove themselves before presenting plays at the Dionysia festival. His first known play was either "Prospaltioi" or "Heilotes" . Surviving fragments from "Prospaltioi" include allusions and near-quotations from Antigone (442 BC) by Sophocles. Scholars are convinced the play targeted Pericles , due to a famous reference to Aspasia. This makes it likely that Pericles, who died in 429 BC, was still alive when Eupolis was working on the text.

The Suda claims Eupolis was only 17-years-old when starting his career. Placing his birth in c. 447/446 BC. It should be noted that sources also claim Aristophanes and Menander were adolescents (epheboi) at the start of their own careers. This suggests a tradition concerning the precociousness of poets.

Although he was at first on good terms with Aristophanes, their relations subsequently became strained, and they accused each other, in most virulent terms, of imitation and plagiarism.

Of the 17 plays attributed to Eupolis, with which he obtained first prize seven times, only fragments remain. Of these the best known are:

• the Kolakes, in which he pilloried the spendthrift Callias, who wasted his money on sophists and parasites;
• Maricas, an attack on Hyperbolus, the successor of Cleon, under a fictitious name
• the Baptai (Latinization: Baptae), against Alcibiades and his groups, at which profligate foreign rites were practised.

Other people he attacked were Socrates, Cimon, and Cleon. The Demoi and Poleis were political, dealing with the desperate condition of the state and with the allied (or tributary) cities.

Storey estimates a total output of 14 or 15 works for Eupolis. (Noting the doubtful paternity of some of the works attributed to the poet.) He considers his career to have lasted from 429 to 411 BC, a period of 18 years.

Death and burial

Ian Storey notes that there are "four ancient traditions" on the manner of death and burial of Eupolis. Each with details impossible to reconcile to each other. The first traditionis "the well-known story" concerning Alcibiades. That Eupolis targeted the politician in his play Baptai. But then found himself serving under Alcibiades in the Sicilian Expedition. Alcibiades retaliated by having the poet drowned on the way to Sicily. This would place Eupolis' death in "the late spring or early summer" or 415 BC. The story, with small variations, can be found in the writings of Juvenal, Aelius Aristides, Themistius, Platonios, John Tzetzes and the Anonymus Crameri. The latter two add two new details. First, that Eupolis made fun of Alcibiades' rhotacism. Second, that soldiers dunked the poet repeatedly in the sea. Leaving unclear if the poet drowned or survived the experience. The story was reported in several ancient sources. But also had its detractors. Eratosthenes pointed out that there were works by Eupolis which were produced following the Sicilian Expedition. Cicero quoted Eratosthenes and considered him a reliable source on the matter.

The second tradition is recorded by Pausanias the geographer. He reported that Eupolis was buried away from Athens, his tomb being located in the vicinity of Sicyon and the river Asopus. Pausanias never explains the reason for a burial away from home. But it might point to Eupolis having a familly connection with Sicyon. Storey notes that there was one Athenian family with known connections to this city: the Alcmaeonidae.

The third tradition is recorded by Claudius Aelianus. He first narrates a tale concerning Augeas, a Molossus dog owned by Eupolis, and how it protected the property of its master from a thief. Then mentions that Eupolis eventually died and was buried in Aegina. Augeas maintained constant vigil and lament over the grave of its master until passing away itself. The location was reportedly named "Dog's Lament" (Greek: Κυνός Θρῆνος) following that event. Modern scholars have pointed this account follows a familiar pattern in ancient literary biography. Adding in a tale concerning a faithful dog and how its presence benefited its master. Said master invariably being the subject of the biography. Storey suggests that the story may have started as a tale mentioned in comedy. Then later writers might have mistaken it for a historical account. He finds more intriguing the connection of Eupolis to Aegina. Verses 652-655 of "The Acharnians" imply that Aristophanes was also connected to this island.

The fourth tradition can be found in the Suda. It claims Eupolis was one of the casualties from the Peloponnesian War, dying "in a shipwreck" within the Hellespont (the Dardanelles). The source for the information is not given. Neither is the death associated with any particular naval battle. Storey notes that the death might be connected to either of three major battles in the region. The Battle of Cynossema (411 BC), the Battle of Arginusae (406 BC) and the Battle of Aegospotami (405 BC).

Reputation

Horace listed Eupolis, Cratinus and Aristophanes (in that order) as the most prominent writers of Old Comedy. Noting how they would "single out" the immoral in their comedies. Persius addressed his works to those inspired by "bold Kratinos", "angry Eupolis", and "the grand old man" (Aristophanes). The Saturnalia by Macrobius mentions: "Everyone knows Eupolis, who must be considered among the elegant poets of Old Comedy."

With Eupolis combined a lively and fertile imagination with sound practical judgment. He was reputed to equal Aristophanes in the elegance and purity of his diction, and Cratinus in his command of irony and sarcasm.

Sources

• Sommerstein, Alan Herbert (2002). Greek Drama and Dramatists. Routledge. ISBN 0415260272
• Storey, Ian Christopher (2003), Eupolis: Poet of Old Comedy, Oxford University Press, ISBN 978-0-19-925992-2
• Taplin, Oliver (1994), Comic Angels: And Other Approaches to Greek Drama Through Vase-Paintings, Oxford University Press, ISBN 9780198150008

References

• This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. {{cite encyclopedia}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)

External links

• Template:El icon/Template:La icon 444 fragments of Eupolis (Ancient Greek text, Latin commentary) : Augustus Meineke, Fragmenta comicorum graecorum, editio minor, 1847, t. I, p. 158 to 228, at Google Books