Sannyrion

Summary

Sannyrion (Ancient Greek: Σαννυρίων) was an Athenian comic poet of the late 5th century BC, and a contemporary of Diocles and Philyllius, according to the Suda. He belonged to the later years of Old Comedy and the start of Middle Comedy.[1]

Works edit

Sannyrion wrote the following works.

  • Τέλως Telōs ("Finally")
  • Δανάη Danae
  • Ιώ Io
  • Σαρδανάπαλλος Sardanapalus (The title could have been mistaken by Suda; reading a passage of Athenaeus strongly suggests that Suda mistook it for the play by Strattis mentioned above, Psychastae (Ψυχασταί).)[2]

In Aristophanes' Gerytades, Sannyrion, Meletus, and Cinesias are chosen as ambassadors from the poets to the shades below because they are so skinny.[3]

Hegelochus edit

Sannyrion is one of the sources for the story of Hegelochus, an actor who was lampooned for a slight but comic mispronunciation while appearing in Euripides' Orestes in 408 BC that ruined his career.

References edit

  1. ^ Smith's Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology, Vol 3, 1867, p. 706.
  2. ^ Smith's Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology, "Sannyrion"
  3. ^ Athenaeus, Deipnosophistae, 12.75.

External links edit

  • Public and Performance in the Greek Theatre by Peter D. Arnott