Xenocles (Greek: Ξενοκλῆς) was an ancient Greek tragedian. He won a victory at the Dionysia in 415 BC with the plays Oedipus, Lycaon, and Bacchae with the satyr play Athamas.[1] Other plays by Xenocles include Licymnius, parodied by Aristophanes in The Clouds,[2] and perhaps Myes.[1] Aristophanes also refers negatively to Xenocles in the Thesmophoriazusae and Frogs.[2]

Xenocles was the son of Carcinus the Elder and father of Carcinus the Younger, both also tragic playwrights.[3] He had at least two brothers were also tragic poets or actors. Ancient sources differ on whether Xenocles was one of three or four brothers,[4] and name them variously as Xenotimus, Xenarchus, Demotimus, Xenocleitus, and Datis.[3] Datis, quoted by Aristophanes in Peace,[3] may have been a nickname for Xenocles.[5]

Notes

  1. ^ a b Zimmerman, Bernhard (2006). "Xenocles [2]". Brill's New Pauly. doi:10.1163/1574-9347_bnp_e12212800.
  2. ^ a b Brown, Andrew. "Xenocles". Oxford Classical Dictionary (4 ed.).
  3. ^ a b c Sutton, Dana Ferrin (1987). "The Theatrical Families of Athens". The American Journal of Philology. 108: 17–18.
  4. ^ Public Domain Smith, William, ed. (1870). "Xenocles (2)". Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology.
  5. ^ Pressler, Frank (2006). "Datis". Brill's New Pauly.
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