Menander: - 3rd Century B.C. The poet Menander (c. 343-291 B.C.) was reputedly a prolific writer of comedies (鈥楴ew Comedy枚) whose plots centered around the lives of the wealthy of Athens in his time. The traveler Pausanias recorded that a bronze statue of the Hellenistic poet was displayed in the theater of Dionysos in Athens. attributed the work to the sons of Praxiteles; Kephisodotos and Timarchos. Menander dies in c. 291 B.C. and it is speculated that the original tribute sculpture was erected shortly after his death. New Comedy movement in Greek drama; which lasted throughout the reign of the Macedonian rulers until about 260 BC. produced his first play in 321 BC; and in 316 won a festival prize with Dyscolus; 鈥楾he Misanthrope' as it's known; the only one of his plays for which a complete text still exists. Menander would go on to write over 100 plays; and triumph several more times at dramatic festivals; including eight times at the prestigious Lenaia festival. Menander's speciality - presenting characters. His plays were adapated by the Romans Plautus and Terence; later influenced Renaissance comedy. Several major discoveries in the 20th century; including the Cairo codex and the Oxyrhynchus papyri; have yielded much new first hand evidence of his writings. Menander is said to have drowned while bathing; has been immortalised in several busts and statues; NATIONAL ARCHEOLOGICAL MUSEUM ATHENS