Strattis was an Athenian comic poet active in the late 5th and early 4th centuries BCE, during the period of Old Comedy. He was a contemporary of Aristophanes. Ancient records indicate he won first prize at the Lenaea festival, though the specific year is unknown. He was a prolific playwright, with over forty play titles attributed to him.
All of his works are lost, surviving only as fragments quoted by other ancient authors. Known titles include Callippides, Cinesias, and Phoenissae. His comedies frequently employed parody and personal satire. He was particularly noted for mocking contemporary figures from other arts, especially tragic poets like Euripides, as well as actors and musicians.
His work represents the style of late Old Comedy, which was rich in literary parody and satire. His fragments record the themes and techniques of comedy as it began to transition toward the less politically aggressive style of the subsequent Middle Comedy period.
Available Works
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