Editing Hipponax (section)

===Influence===
Hipponax influenced Alexandrian poets searching for alternative styles and uses of language, such as [[Callimachus]] and [[Herodas]],<ref>Christopher G. Brown, 'Hipponax' in ''A Companion to Greek Lyric Poets'', Douglas E. Gerber (ed.), Brill (1997) pages 80, 82</ref> and his colourful reputation as an acerbic, social critic also made him a popular subject for verse, as in this epigram by [[Theocritus]] rendered here in prose:
:''Here lies the poet Hipponax. If you are a scoundrel, do not approach the tomb; but if you are honest and from worthy stock, sit down in confidence and, if you like, fall asleep,''<ref>Theocritus ''epig.'' 19 Gow, cited by Douglas Gerber, ''Greek Iambic Poetry'', Loeb Classical Library (1999), page 347</ref>
or in this 19th century rhyming translation by C.S.Calverley:

:Tuneful Hipponax rests him here.
:Let no base rascal venture near.
:Ye who rank high in birth and mind
:Sit down—and sleep, if so inclined.<ref>Theocritus, translated into verse by C.S.Calverley, DEIGHTON, BELL, AND CO. LONDON: BELL AND DALDY.
1869</ref>

Ancient literary critics credited him with inventing literary parody<ref>Athenaeus 15.698b, cited by Douglas Gerber, ''Greek Iambic Poetry'', Loeb Classical Library (1999), page 459</ref> and "lame" poetic meters suitable for vigorous abuse,<ref>Demetrius ''de eloc.'' 301, cited and translated by Douglas Gerber, ''Greek Iambic Poetry'', Loeb Classical Library (1999), page 351</ref> as well as with influencing comic dramatists such as [[Aristophanes]].<ref>Tzetzes on Aristophanes, 'Plutus', cited by Douglas Gerber, ''Greek Iambic Poetry'', Loeb Classical Library (1999), page 383</ref> His witty, abusive style appears for example in this passage by [[Aelius Herodianus|Herodian]], who was mainly interested in its linguistic aspects (many of the extant verses were preserved for us by lexicographers and grammarians interested in rare words):
:{{lang|grc|τίς ὀμφαλητόμος σε τὸν διοπλῆγα}}
:{{lang|grc|ἔψησε κἀπέλουσεν ἀσκαρίζοντα;}}

:''What navel-snipper wiped and washed you as you squirmed about, you crack-brained creature?''
where 'navel-snipper' signifies a midwife.<ref>Herodian 'On Inflections', cited by Douglas Gerber, ''Greek Iambic Poetry'', Loeb Classical Library (1999), page 367</ref>