Phlyax play

From the surviving fragments and titles of the plays, they appear to have been a form of mythological burlesque, which mixed figures from the Greek pantheon with the stock characters and situations of Attic Comedy.

[3] Distinct phlyax plays, blending tragic and comic elements, became well defined only in the late 4th century BC onwards by the dramatist Rhinthon.

Additionally, the adjective phleos or phleon ('tumid') was attributed to Dionysus who is often portrayed as company of phlyax actors, while such performances were typically given in his honor.

On the other hand, others have argued that it is more likely for the phlyax plays to have been in fact performed by itinerant actors who carried with them their own stage, necessary props, and costumes.

[7] The vase paintings indicate that they were performed on a raised wooden stage with an upper gallery, and that the actors wore grotesque costumes and masks similar to those of Attic Old Comedy.

The standard costume of the phlyax actors was made of tight fits that represented nudity and a large padding on the back and front, on which a phallus was attached.

Three men robbing a miser in his house, in a scene from a phlyax play painted by Asteas ; c. 350–340 BC
Phlyax scene parodying the birth of Helen out the egg which was laid by Leda . The events take place on a stage with elements of set design such as a usable door; c. 380–370 BC
Portrayal of a female phlyax character with a typical burlesque white mask, c. 380–370 BC
Zeus (middle) walking with a cane and holding a thunderbolt while an aulos -player (right) marks the rhythm; a bystander watches with a basket on his head. Red-figure calyx-krater, 380–360 BC.