Sannyrion

A minor comic poet from the end of the fifth century, Sannyrion is best known for his intertextual activity. He was made fun of twice by Strattis (T 4) for a thin and emaciated appearance and once in splendid fashion by Aristophanes (T 5), and he himself pointed out Hegelochus’ slip of the tongue in Euripides’ Orestes (F 8). Since the title Cool-Seekers, recorded by the Suda (T 1), is attested for Strattis with six fragments, it should probably be removed from Sannyrion’s list of plays. Confusion arising from the citation at Athenaeus 551c (Strattis F 57), which mentions both Sannyrion and Strattis, may be the source of the misattribution. The only comedy about which we have any hints is Danae. F 8 reveals that it handled the story of Zeus’ seduction of Acrisius’ daughter, Zeus himself appearing as a character in the play.

i Sannyrion: of Athens, comic poet. These are his plays: Laughter, Danae, Io, Cool-Seekers, so Athenaeus in The Learned Banqueters (F 2.3, 11).

ii Diocles: . . . poet of Old Comedy, a contemporary of Sannyrion and Philyllius.