Epicharmus

Epicharmus of Cos (Ancient Greek: Ἐπίχαρμος ὁ Κῷος), thought to have lived between c. 550 and c. 460 BC, was a Greek dramatist and philosopher. He is often credited with being one of the first comedic writers, having originated the Doric or Sicilian comedic form. Most of the information about Epicharmus comes from the writings of Athenaeus, Suda, and Diogenes Laërtius. Plato mentions Epicharmus in his dialogues Gorgias and Theaetetus, referring to him as 'the prince of Comedy.' Aristotle wrote that he and Phormis invented comic plots. Epicharmus's birthplace is uncertain, with ancient commentators suggesting alternatives like Syracuse or Krastos. Diogenes Laërtius suggests he was born in Astypalea, Kos, and moved to Megara in Sicily with his physician father. Although raised in the Asclepiad tradition, Epicharmus later became a follower of Pythagoras. He likely lived in Syracuse, Magna Graecia, after 484 BC, serving as a poet for tyrants Gelo and Hiero I. His poetry covered a wide range, including exhortations, mythological burlesque, philosophy, medicine, natural science, linguistics, and ethics. He taught that continuous exercise of virtue could overcome heredity, enabling anyone to be good regardless of birth. He died in his nineties. Diogenes Laërtius records a bronze statue of him in Syracuse with an inscription by Theocritus. Alexander von Humboldt featured Epicharmus as the protagonist in his literary text 'Die Lebenskraft oder der Rhodische Genius.' Epicharmus wrote between thirty-five and fifty-two comedies, many of which are lost or exist only in fragments. His works were known for mythological travesties and character comedies, avoiding direct political attacks like those found in Athenian comedy. His most famous works included *Agrōstīnos* ('The Country-Dweller') and *Hebes Gamos* ('The Marriage of Hebe'). He also depicted mythological figures in a burlesque manner. Some ancient opinions suggested Plato plagiarized Epicharmus's ideas. Notable fragments include 'A mortal should think mortal thoughts, not immortal thoughts' and 'The hand washes the hand: give something and you may get something.'