Cephisodorus
(Κηφισόδωρος).
1. An Athenian comic poet of the old comedy, gained a prize B. C. 402. (Lysias, Δροδ. p. 162. 2, ed. Steph; Suidas, s.v. Eudoc. p. 270.) This date is confirmed by the title of one of his comedies, Ἀντιλαΐς, which evidently refers to the celebrated courtezan Lais; and also by his being mentioned in connexion with Cratinus, Aristophanes, Callias, Diodes, Eupolis, and Hermippus. The following are the known titles of his plays : Ἀντιλαΐς, Ἀμαζόνες, Τροφώνιος,Ὗς. A few fragments of them are preserved by Photius and Suidas (s. v. Ὄνος ὕεται, by Pollux (6.173, 7.40, 87), and by Athenaeus. (iii. p. 119d., viii. p. 345f., xi. p. 459a., xii. p. 553a., xiv. p. 629d., xv. p. 667d., p. 689f., p. 701b.)
2. An Athenian orator, a most eminent disciple of Isocrates, wrote an apology for Isocrates against Aristotle. The work against Aristotle was in four books, under the title of αἱ προς Ἀριστοτέλη ἀντιγραφαί. (Dionys. Ep. ad Amm. p. 120. 32, Sylb.; Isoc. p. 102, 17; Isaeus, p. 111. 37 ; Dem. p. 120. 31; Athen. 2.60e., iii. p. 122b., viii. p. 359c.) He also attacked Plato. (Dionys. Ep. ad Pomp. p. 127. 3, Sylb.)
A writer of the same name is mentioned by the Scholiast on Aristotle (Aristot. EN 3.8) as the author of a history of the Sacred War. As the disciples of Isocrates paid much attention to historical composition, Ruhnken conjectures that the orator and the historian were the same person. (Hist. Crit. Orat. Graec. § 38.) There is a Cephisodorus, a Theban, mentioned by Athenaeus (xii. p. 548e) as an historian. It is possible that he may be the same person. If so, we must suppose that Cephisodorus was a native of Thebes, and settled at Athens as a μέτοικος: but this is mere conjecture. [P.S]
an illustrious painter mentioned by Pliny (35.9. s. 36.1), together with Aglaophon, Phrylus, and Evenor, the father of Parrhasius, under the 90th Olympiad (B. C. 420), at which date, the end of the Archidamian war, Pliny's authorities made a stop and enumerated the distinguished men of the age. (Heyne, Antiq. Aufsätze, i. p. 220.) At least, this reason for the date of Pliny seems more probable than the victories of Alcibiades in the Olympian and other games which were celebrated by Aglaophon. (Aglaophon; and Böttiger, Archäologie der Malerei, p. 269.) [L.U]
- commander of Athenian cavalry: Paus. 8.9.10
- opponent of Macedonia: Paus. 1.36.5
- seeks help of Romans: Paus. 1.36.6
- his tomb: Paus. 1.36.5