Born 2.10.1616 in Glogau, Silesia, died there 16.7.1664. Son of a Lutheran archdeacon. Original name: Greif. Hard childhood during the
Thirty-Year-War. 1631 Gymnasium Görlitz, 1632 Fraustadt, 1634 Gdansk. 1638 language studies in Leyden (Gryphius commanded about 10 languages).
1644 Travels to The Hague, Paris, Marseille, Florence, Rome, Venice and Straßburg. From 1647 in Fraustadt.Great poet of the German “Barock”, author of dramas and comedies. Expressed deep pessimism.