A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology

Smith, William

A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology. William Smith, LLD, ed. 1890

2. One of the principal Athenian comic poets of the new comedy, and a contemporary of Menander and Philemon, was a native of Sinope. (Strab. xii. p.546; Anon. de Com. pp. xxx. xxxi.) He was a lover of the courtezan Gnatbaena, and seems sometimes to have attacked her in his comedies, when under the influence of jealousy. (Machon and Lynceus Samius, apud Athen. xiii. pp. 579, f., 580, a., 583, f.) He was not, however, perfectly constant. (Alciph. Ep. 1.37.) He is said to have exhibited a hundred plays (Anon. l.c.), and sometimes to have acted himself. (Athen. 13.583f.)

Though, in point of time, Diphilus belonged to the new comedy, his poetry seems to have had more of the character of the middle. This is shewn, among other indications, by the frequency with which he chooses mythological subjects for his plays, and by his bringing on the stage the poets Archilochus, Hipponax, and Sappho. (Ath. xi. p. 487a., xiii. p. 599d.) His language is simple and elegant, but it contains many departures from Attic purity. Respecting his metres, see Meineke. (Hist. Crit. pp. 443, 444, 448.)