Eubulus (poet)

Eubulus was a Middle Comedy poet of ancient Athens. He flourished from approximately 375 BCE to 350 BCE. He was a prolific writer, credited with a large number of plays, though only fragments of his work survive. These fragments, preserved primarily through quotations in the works of later authors such as Athenaeus, offer glimpses into his style and the themes he explored.

Eubulus's comedy was characterized by its focus on everyday life, often satirizing contemporary Athenian society, particularly its culinary habits and social customs. He frequently employed mythological subjects, but often treated them in a burlesque and parodic manner, inverting traditional heroic narratives for comic effect. His work is notable for its lively dialogue and witty commentary on the politics and culture of his time.

While little is known about Eubulus's personal life, his surviving fragments demonstrate a significant talent for comedic writing and provide valuable insight into the evolution of Greek comedy during the Middle Comedy period. His plays were clearly popular in his time, as evidenced by the numerous quotations and references to his work by later writers.