Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology/Philaenis

Philaenis (Φιλανις), a Greek poetess of Leucas, appears to have lived at the time of the sophist Polycrates, who was a contemporary of Isocrates. She was the reputed authoress of an obscene poem on love (περι Αφροδισιων ακλαστον σθγγραμμα), which was classed by Chrysippus along with the Gastronomia of Archestratus. According to Aeschrion, however, Philaenis did not write this poem; and in an epitaph supposed to be placed on the tomb of Philaenis, Aeschrion ascribes the work to Polycrates. This epitaph, which is written in choliambic verses, and which has been preserved by Atheneaus, is given in the collection of choliambic poets appended to Lachmann's edition of Babirus, p. 137, Berol. 1845. (Athen. v. p. 220, f., viii. p. 335, b—e., x. p. 457, d.; Polyb. xii. 13.)