The birth of comedy : texts documents and art from Athenian comic competitions 486 280 Proto comedy : literary and visual evidence for the precursors of comedy in 6th century Greece Epicharmus of Sicily Festivals competitions victory lists The first and second generations (except Cratinus) Cratinus Eupolis Aristophanes Phrynichus and Platon Other authors ca. 420 390 BCE Theater audience actors chorus and costume of old and middle comedy : texts statuettes and paintings (also from outside Athens) Scenes from old or middle comedy on 4th century southern Italian vases Anaxandrides Eubulus Ephippus Antiphanes Timocles and nicostratus Alexis Other authors of middle comedy The masks of new comedy in texts and images; actors of new comedy; acting techniques; other developments in staging Philemon Menander Diphilus of Sinope Other new comedy authors