Cratinus

Here is the revised memorial biography for Cratinus, refined to include only well-supported facts drawn from reliable sources:

Cratinus (Ancient Greek: Κρατῖνος) was a prominent Athenian comic poet of the Old Comedy, active during the fifth century BC. Born circa 519 BC, he enjoyed an extraordinarily long career, remaining a formidable competitor into his nineties. His last known victory came in 423 BC with his celebrated play Pytine ("The Wineflask"), after which he passed away shortly thereafter, reportedly at the advanced age of ninety-seven (en.wikipedia.org).

A son of Callimedes and serving as a taxiarch, Cratinus was renowned for his sharp political satire and direct, vigorous style. He was considered one of the three great masters of Athenian Old Comedy, alongside Aristophanes and Eupolis. His work was influential and enduring, with over five hundred fragments and nearly thirty play titles surviving through antiquity (en.wikipedia.org).

His plays were known for their bold critique of public figures and civic life. One of his most noted works, Pytine, was written as a witty response to Aristophanes' mockery of him in The Knights (424 BC). In Pytine, Cratinus humorously confronted his reputation for intemperance and reclaimed public favor by winning the City Dionysia competition in 423 BC over both Aristophanes' Clouds and Ameipsias’ Connus (en.wikipedia.org).

Beyond Pytine, titles such as Satyrs (Lenaea, 424 BC) and Cheimazomenoi (Lenaea, 425 BC) are among the few other dated works in his oeuvre. Earlier plays like Archilochi and Dionysalexandros are approximately datable to the mid- to late-450s and early-430s BC, demonstrating a prolific and sustained presence in Athenian theatrical culture (collectionscanada.gc.ca).

Little is certain about his personal life beyond these details. Ancient critics such as the Suda accused him of immorality, cowardice, and indulgence, though only the last charge finds support in Aristophanes’ satirical portrayals and Cratinus’ own self-parodying Pytine (en.wikipedia.org).

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In summary:

• Cratinus (c. 519–c. 422 BC) was an Athenian Old Comedy poet.
• He won first prize at dramatic festivals multiple times, with his final known success in 423 BC (Pytine), dying soon after, reportedly at age 97.
• Celebrated for bold political satire, he remains an iconic figure of fifth-century Athenian theater, with a legacy preserved only in fragments and testimonia.

This version maintains factual integrity and clarity, reflecting only what can be confidently supported by the sources.