Editing Cratinus (section)

===''Pytine''===
The ''Pytine'' (The Wineflask) was Cratinus' most famous play. A grammarian describes the background of the play as follows: In 424 BC, [[Aristophanes]] produced ''[[The Knights]]'', in which he described Cratinus "as a drivelling old man,  wandering about with his crown withered, and so utterly neglected by his former admirers that he could not even procure to quench the thirst of which he was perishing"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/t/text/pageviewer-idx?c=moa;cc=moa;idno=acl3129.0001.001;q1=Cratinus;size=l;frm=frameset;seq=901 |title=A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology. By various writers. Ed. by William Smith. Illustrated by numerous engravings on wood |publisher=Quod.lib.umich.edu |date= |accessdate=2021-03-12}}</ref><ref>Ar. Eq. 526-536: "Next, remembering Cratinus, who formerly having flowed with a full stream of praise used to flow through the level plains, and carrying away from their places, used to bear away the oaks and the plane-trees, and his enemies by the roots. And it was not permitted to sing any thing at a banquet except " Oh fig-sandaled Doro," and " builders of ingenious songs;" so much did he flourish. But now, when you see him in his dotage, you do not pity him, since the pegs fall out, and the tone is no longer there, and the harmony is dissonant. But old as he is, he wanders about like Connas, having, it is true, a withered chaplet, but dying with thirst ; who ought to drink in the Prytaneum on account of his former victories..."</ref> Soon after that play, Cratinus responded by producing a play called ''Pytine'' (The Wineflask) in 423 BC, which defeated the ''Connus'' of [[Ameipsias]] and ''[[The Clouds]]'' of Aristophanes, which was produced in the same year.<ref>Aristoph. ad Equit. 528: "After Cratinus had heard these things (the taunts by Aristophanes), he wrote the Pytine, to show, that he did not blather about these things, which speak ill of Aristophanes, just like the things, which speak ill of Eupolis."</ref>