Phrynichus (tragic poet)

Phrynichus (Greek Φρύνιχος ) lived from the late 6th century to the first quarter of the 5th century BC He was a Greek tragedians of Athens, which is considered as a dramatic precursor of Aeschylus.

Phrynichus was the son of Polyphradmon and a pupil of Thespis. 511/508 BC, he celebrated his first dramatic victory, 476 BC another. In old age, around 470 BC, he should have died like his younger contemporary and rival Aeschylus, Sicily.

In his tragedies initially prevailed the lyrical choruses, because of their beauty and grace - were greatly praised and form almost exclusively dramatic poetry - so even by Aristophanes. Among his innovations in the ancient Greek theater, the introduction of female masks, the tetrameter and various dance figures should have counted. Except mythical substances ( including on Danaids, Actaeon, Alcestis, Tantalus, etc. ), he also dealt with events of recent history. At the premiere of his tragedy, " The taking of Miletus " ( by the Persians ), the theater audience burst into tears, so that the poet a fine of 1,000 drachmas was imposed because he had stirred at the misfortune of the fatherland. After that it was frowned upon for a long time in the theater, to broach this subject again. The 476 BC brought to Performance Tragedy " The Phönissen " which was sponsored by Themistocles, deals with the Battle of Salamis and the grief of the wives of the fallen Persian warrior. This piece was the model for " The Persians " by Aeschylus.

A collection of the scattered fragments found in August Nauck ( Tragicorum Graecorum Fragmenta, Leipzig 1856).