Hermippus
Who was Hermippus?
5th-century BC Athenian Old Comedy poet
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Hermippus (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Hermippus (Ancient Greek: Ἕρμιππος) was an Athenian poet and playwright of Old Comedy during the fifth century BC, especially around the time of the Peloponnesian War. Known for being one-eyed, Hermippus was active in the latter half of the fifth century BC, a time of intense political and cultural activity in Athens.
He was a prolific writer in Old Comedy, a satirical and politically charged type of theater in Athens. This genre often attacked public figures, used imaginative plots, and included choral song and dance. Hermippus worked alongside other playwrights like Aristophanes and Cratinus, adding his own style to the festival circuit in Athenian drama, particularly at the Lenaia and the City Dionysia.
Some of his play titles have been preserved in fragments through later ancient writers. His works include titles like Moirai, Artopolides, Cercopes, and Phormophoroi. These fragments, though short, offer a glimpse into his comic approach and themes. He sometimes addressed mythological topics, a common technique among Old Comedy poets to frame political satire in allegorical terms.
Hermippus is also known as the brother of the comic poet Myrtilus, indicating a family connection to the theater. He reportedly accused the politician Aspasia, Pericles' companion, of impiety, although the details and reliability of this incident are debated. If true, it places Hermippus at the heart of the political controversies around Pericles during the Peloponnesian War.
Though none of his complete plays survive, Hermippus is recognized in the history of ancient Greek drama. His fragments were later collected and studied, and he was mentioned by ancient writers like Athenaeus, who preserved several quotes from his comedies. His career reflects the creativity of Athenian comic writing during one of the most turbulent and intellectually active times in Greek history.
Before Fame
Hermippus was born in Athens during a time when the city was rapidly growing its theatrical traditions. By the early fifth century BC, the festival competitions at the Dionysia had become a big part of Athenian civic life. When Hermippus reached adulthood, Old Comedy had become a way to make sharp political comments and entertain the public. Athenian drama was competitive, with playwrights having their works judged by a public audience, and this environment likely influenced Hermippus’s early goals and training.
To gain recognition in Athens as a comic playwright, it was crucial to succeed at the major dramatic festivals. Winning brought public recognition and the support needed to keep creating work. Hermippus probably honed his skills by closely watching experienced comic masters and getting involved in Athens's lively oral and theatrical scene, where public performances, political debates, and poetic competitions were all interlinked parts of everyday life.
Key Achievements
- Produced multiple comedies within the Old Comedy tradition at the major Athenian dramatic festivals during the fifth century BC.
- Authored works including Moirai, Artopolides, Cercopes, and Phormophoroi, fragments of which survived into later antiquity.
- Participated actively in the political culture of Athens, most notably through his reported prosecution of Aspasia on charges of impiety.
- Contributed to the development of Old Comedy alongside major figures such as Aristophanes and Cratinus.
- Maintained a sufficient reputation in antiquity that later authors including Athenaeus preserved and quoted his work in scholarly compilations.
Did You Know?
- 01.Ancient sources record that Hermippus was one-eyed, making him one of the few ancient comic playwrights identified by a distinctive physical trait.
- 02.Hermippus reportedly prosecuted Aspasia, the companion of the statesman Pericles, on charges of impiety, placing him at the center of one of the most politically charged trials of the fifth century BC.
- 03.He was the brother of the comic poet Myrtilus, indicating that at least two members of his family were active participants in the competitive Athenian comic theater scene.
- 04.His play Phormophoroi, meaning 'basket-carriers,' is among the titles preserved in ancient sources, suggesting he drew on everyday Athenian social life for his comedic material.
- 05.Fragments of his work were preserved largely through quotation by Athenaeus in his Deipnosophistae, a compendious work compiled centuries after Hermippus lived.