A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology

6. Of CARYSTUS. The ancients distinguish between two comic poets of the name of Apollodorus: the one is called a native of Gela in Sicily, and the other of Carystus in Euboea. Suidas speaks of an Athenian comic poet Apollodorus, and this circumstance has led some critics to imagine that there were three comic poets of the name of Apollodorus. But as the Athenian is not mentioned anywhere else, and as Suidas does not notice the Carystian, it is supposed that Suidas called the Carystian an Athenian either by mistake, or because he had the Athenian franchise. It should, however, be remembered that the plays of the Carystian were not performed at Athens, but at Alexandria. (Athen. 14.664.) Athenaeus calls him a contemporary of Machon; so that he probably lived between the years B. C. 300 and 260. Apollodorus of Carystus belonged to the school of the new Attic comedy, and was one of the most distinguished among its poets. (Athen. l.c.) This is not only stated by good authorities, but may also be inferred from the fact, that Terence took his Hecyra and Phormio from Apollodorus of Carystus. (A. Mai, Fragm. Plandi et Terenti, p. 38.) According to Suidas Apollodorus wrote 47 comedies, and five times gained the prize. We know the titles and possess fragments of several of his plays; but ten comedies are mentioned by the ancients under the name of Apollodorus alone, and without any suggestion as to whether they belong to Apollodorus of Carystus or to Apollodorus of Gela. (A. Meineke, Hist. Crit. (Comicor. Graecor. p. 462, &c.)