Ophelio the Comic Poet and the Fragments of Middle Comedy

Ophelio the Comic Poet was an ancient Greek comic poet of the 4th century BCE, active during the period of Middle Comedy. He is known only from fragments and mentions in later sources, primarily the Byzantine encyclopedia Suda, which provides the sole record of his existence. No biographical details concerning his birthplace or associations survive.

The Suda attributes two lost comedies to Ophelio: Hemitheos and Pandrosos. Both plays survive only as titles, and no textual fragments are extant.

Ophelio the Comic Poet exemplifies the numerous comic poets from the Classical period whose works are almost entirely lost. The mythological themes suggested by his play titles align with common features of Middle Comedy. He is one of the many attested names that help map the scope and chronology of the ancient comic tradition.