Xenocles

Xenocles is an ancient Greek masculine name formed from the elements xenos, meaning "foreign" or "strange," and kleos, meaning "glory." The name thus carries the sense of "strange glory."

Historical Bearers

The most notable bearer was Xenocles, a 5th-century BC Greek tragedian from Athens. He was the son of the playwright Carcinus the Elder and father of Carcinus the Younger, both also tragic poets. Xenocles won first prize at the City Dionysia in 415 BC with a tetralogy comprising the tragedies Oedipus, Lycaon, and Bacchae, along with the satyr play Athamas. He also wrote a play titled Licymnius, which was parodied by Aristophanes in The Clouds.

Ancient sources, including Aristophanes, often mention Xenocles in a mocking tone. In The Thesmophoriazusae and Frogs, Aristophanes disparages his work. There is also confusion about the names of Xenocles' brothers: they are variously recorded as Xenotimus, Xenarchus, Demotimus, Xenocleitus, and Datis. The name Datis, a known Persian general, may have been a nickname for Xenocles.

Cultural Context

In the competitive world of Athenian drama, Xenocles is remembered more for his family connections and Aristophanes' mockery than for the preservation of his works, none of which survive. Nonetheless, his name reflects a common Greek practice of compound names celebrating honor and renown.

Linguistic Notes

The name has a variant spelling: Xenokles. It is exclusively used in historical contexts, as it has not seen modern revival as a given name. The related xenos element appears in names like Xenophon, while kleos is found in names such as Herakles and Pericles.

• Meaning: "strange glory"
• Origin: Ancient Greek
• Type: Personal name (masculine)
• Usage: Only historically among the ancient Greeks