Famous Greek Playwrights

Sophocles was an ancient Greek writer. He is one among three tragedians from his era whose plays have survived. Sophocles was the most decorated and celebrated playwright for almost five decades, during which he won 24 out of 30 dramatic competitions, which took place in the city-state of Athens during the religious festivals of the Dionysia and the Lenaea.

One of the three ancient Greek tragedians, together with Sophocles and Aeschylus, Euripides wrote around 92 plays, out of which 18 or 19 have survived intact. He is known for theatrical innovations that influenced modern drama as well. This particularly includes his representation of mythical heroes as common people in exceptional circumstances. His notable works include Hippolytus, Alcestis and Medea.

Greco-Roman writer, playwright and epic poet of the Old Latin Livius Andronicus is considered as the father of Roman drama as also of Latin literature. The tragedies and comedies he wrote for the stage are regarded as the first dramatic works written in the Latin language. One of his notable works includes the Latin translation of Homer’s Greek epic-poem Odyssey.

Yannis Ritsos was a Greek poet best remembered for his association with politics. A communist, Ritsos played an active role during World War II as part of the Greek Resistance. Consequentially, he was often referred to as "the great poet of the Greek left." However, today, Yannis Ritsos is often counted among the greatest Greek poets of the 20th century.

One of the greatest Greek poets of the 20th century, Angelos Sikelianós is remembered for his poems such as The Light-Shadowed and Mother of God. His tragedies, such as Sibylla and Daedalus in Crete, are know for their lyrics and drama. He and his wife, Eva, also started the Delphic Festival.

Part of the Demotic movement of the late 1800s, Greek poet Kostís Palamás later pioneered the new school of Athens, also known as the Palamian School, which rejected the traditional literary styles and introduced a significant restraint. He is remembered for his works such as Trisevgene and Asalefte Zoe.

A Greek tragic poet, grammarian, sophist and commentator on comedy, Lycophron is most recognised for the traditional attribution to him of the extant poem Alexandra. He wrote a treatise on comedy and several tragedies which got him a place in the Pleiad of Alexandrian tragedians, a group of seven Alexandrian poets and tragedians in the court of Ptolemy II Philadelphus.

Known as the pioneer of Sicilian, or Dorian, Comedy, Greek poet and dramatist Epicharmus of Kos finds mention in the works of authors such as Athenaeus and Suda. Known for his broad range of subjects, he didn’t just stick to poetry or plays but also wrote on medicine, philosophy, and linguistics.

One of the best-known Athenian poets, Eupolis belonged to the Old Comedy tradition. It is believed Eupolis and Aristophanes were initially friends but they later turned rivals. He rose to fame during the Peloponnesian War between Sparta and Athens. The Demes remains one of his most significant works.

Greek poet Andreas Kalvos is best remembered for his works such as Lira and Neas Odas. Part of the Ionian, also known as the Heptanese or Romantic school of Greek poetry, he introduced Italian Neoclassical elements to Greek literature, as he was born and raised in Italy.

Iakovos Kambanellis was a Greek playwright, screenwriter, poet, lyricist, and novelist. Widely regarded as the father of modern Greek theater, Kambanellis is also considered one of the most important Greek playwrights of the 20th century. In 2000, Iakovos Kambanellis was honored by the President of the Greek Republic with the prestigious medal of the Order of Phoenix.

Antiphanes was an ancient Greek poet, often considered one of the most prominent writers of the Middle Attic comedy along with Alexis. Although he was not originally from Greece, Antiphanes settled down in Athens, where he went on to become an extremely prolific writer.