Lycophron and Malta

Abstract

Very few ancient writers refer directly to Malta in their works and one of these is the tragic poet Lycophron. Extremely little is known about Lycophron's life and almost all our information on his career comes from a notice in Suidas and a << Life >> by the twelfth century Byzantine scholar Tzetzes prefixed to his commentary of the Alexandra. Born in Chalcis in Euboea towards the end of the fourth century B.C. he seems to have spent his earlier years in Chalcis, Athens, and possibly Rhegion. He was later given hospitality and an academic post at the Mouseion of Alexandria. Where and when he died we do not know.