Eupolis

Eupolis (Greek: Εὔπολις; c. 446 – 411 BC) was an Athenian poet of the Old Comedy, who flourished during the time of the Peloponnesian War.

Biography

Nothing whatsoever 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.[1]

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.[1] Sophocles had actually become the pre-eminent playwright in Athens c. 456 BC, when Aeschylus died.[2]

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.[1] Surviving fragments from the Prospaltioi include allusions to, and near-quotations of, Sophocles' Antigone (442 BC).[3] Scholars are convinced the play targeted Pericles,[4] 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.[5]

The Suda claims Eupolis was only 17 years old when he started his career. (This would place his birth ca. 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.[1]

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.[6]

Works

Eupolis obtained first prize seven times, but only fragments remain of the 19 titles attributed to him. Of these, the best known are:

Other people he attacked in his plays were Socrates, Cimon, and Cleon. The following titles (with associated fragments) are also ascribed to Eupolis:

  • Aiges ("Goats")
  • Astrateutoi ("People Exempt From Military Service"), or Androgynai ("Hermaphrodites")
  • Autolykos ("Autolycus", two versions)
  • Diaiton ("Arbiter")
  • Dias ("Dias")
  • Heilotes ("Helots")
  • Klopai ("Thefts")
  • Lakones ("Laconians")
  • Noumeniai ("New-Moon Festival"), which won third prize at the Lenaea of 425 BC.[9]
  • Prospaltioi ("Men From Prospalta")
  • Taxiarchoi ("Brigadiers")
  • Hybristodikai ("Abusers of Justice")
  • Philoi ("Friends")
  • Chrysoun Genos ("The Golden Race (or Species)")

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.[10]

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 tradition is "the well-known story" concerning Alcibiades. Eupolis targeted that 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" of 415 BC.[8] 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, making it unclear if the poet drowned or survived the experience.[11] The story was reported in several ancient sources, but it 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.[8]

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.[8] Pausanias never explains the reason for a burial away from home. But it might point to Eupolis having a family connection with Sicyon. Storey notes that there was one Athenian family with known connections to this city: the Alcmaeonidae.[12]

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. He 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" (Ancient Greek: Κυνὸς Θρῆνος) following that event.[8] Modern scholars have pointed this account follows a familiar pattern in ancient literary biography of 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.[12]

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) or the Battle of Aegospotami (405 BC).[8]

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 Cratinus", "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."[13]

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.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Storey (2003), pp. 54–56.
  2. ↑ Sommerstein (2002), p. 41.
  3. ↑ Taplin (1994), pp. 87-88.
  4. ↑ Storey (2003), p. 231.
  5. ↑ Storey (2003), p. 263.
  6. ↑ Aristophanes, in the parabasis of his play The Clouds, publicly accused Eupolis' play Maricas to be a plagiarism of fellow comic Phrynichus and his own Knights:
    "Eupolis, indeed, first of all craftily introduced his Maricas, / having basely, base fellow, spoiled by altering my play of the Knights, / having added to it, for the sake of the cordax, a drunken old woman, whom / Phrynichus long ago poetized, whom the whale was for devouring."
    (Chorus [leader], in The Clouds, line 553-556, transl. William James Hickie, 1871)
  7. ↑ Peace, introduction
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Storey (2003), pp. 56–57.
  9. ↑ Acharnians, introduction
  10. ↑ Storey (2003), p. 5.
  11. ↑ Storey (2003), p. 58.
  12. 1 2 Storey (2003), p. 57.
  13. ↑ Storey (2003), pp. 1–2.

Sources

External links

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Eupolis
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