PHILEMON, a Greek comic poet, was son to Damon, and contemporary with Menander. Any advantage he had over this poet, was owing less to his own merit than to the intrigues of his friends. Plautus has imitated his comedy du Marchand. He is reported to have died laughing on seeing his ass eat figs. He was then about
Philemon about 97 years of age. His son Philemon the younger, was also the author of 54 comedies, of which there are still extant some considerable fragments collected by Grotius. These clearly prove that he was not a poet of the first rank. He flourished about the year 274 before our Saviour.