Philemon (poet)

He was born either at Soli in Cilicia or at Syracuse in Sicily but moved to Athens some time before 330 BC, when he is known to have been producing plays.

Except for a short sojourn in Egypt with Ptolemy II Philadelphus, he passed his life at Athens.

[1] He attained remarkable popularity, for he repeatedly won victories over his younger contemporary and rival Menander, whose delicate wit was apparently less to the taste of the Athenians of the time than Philemon's comedy.

However, later generations preferred the refined style of Menander, and only stray fragments survive today.

[2] Of his ninety-seven works, fifty-seven are known to us by titles and fragments.