Philemon

Greek poet

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Born:: c. 368 bc,, Syracuse, Sicily [now in Italy]

Died:: c. 264 bc

Movement / Style:: New Comedy

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Philemon (born c. 368 bc, Syracuse, Sicily [now in Italy]—died c. 264 bc) was a poet of the Athenian New Comedy, elder contemporary and successful rival of Menander.

As a playwright Philemon was noted for his neatly contrived plots, vivid description, dramatic surprises, and platitudinous moralizing. By 328 he was producing plays in Athens, where he eventually became a citizen; he also worked in Alexandria for a time. Of 97 comedies by him, some 60 titles survive in Greek fragments and Latin adaptations.

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