Philitas of Cos
Philitas of Cos (/fɪˈlaɪtəs/; Greek: Φιλίτας ὁ Κῷος, Philītas ho Kōos; c. 340 – c. 285 BC), sometimes spelled Philetas (/faɪˈliːtəs/; Φιλήτας, Philētas; see Bibliography below), was a Greek scholar, poet and grammarian during the early Hellenistic period of ancient Greece. He is regarded as the founder of the Hellenistic school of poetry, which flourished in Alexandria after about 323 BC. Philitas is also reputed to have been the tutor of Ptolemy II Philadelphus and the poet Theocritus. He was thin and frail; Athenaeus later caricatured him as an academic so consumed by his studies that he wasted away and died.
Philitas of Cos | |
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Bronze of Philitas, The Philosopher (c. 250–200 BC) | |
| Native name | Φιλίτας ὁ Κῷος |
| Born | c. 340 BC |
| Died | c. 285 BC (age 55) |
| Occupation | Scholar and poet |
| Nationality | Ptolemaic Kingdom |
| Genre | Elegiac, epigram, epyllion |
| Subject | Glossary, Homer |
| Literary movement | Alexandrian school of poetry |
| Notable works | Demeter Disorderly Words |
Literature portal | |
Philitas was the first major Greek writer who was both a scholar and a poet. His reputation continued for centuries, based on both his pioneering study of words and his verse in elegiac meter. His vocabulary Disorderly Words described the meanings of rare literary words, including those used by Homer. His poetry, notably his elegiac poem Demeter, was highly respected by later ancient poets. However, almost all his work has since been lost.