Bombyce appears in Theocritus as a flute-player, her character bringing the realities of urban working women into poetry often focused on idealized rural or aristocratic figures. The character represents the prostitutes and entertainers who formed part of ancient city life, her presence expanding poetry's social range. Bombyce demonstrates that Hellenistic verse engaged with contemporary urban society, including marginalized figures whose lives differed dramatically from both pastoral shepherds and wealthy patrons.

Bombyce appears in Hellenistic poetry as a flute-girl or entertainment worker, representing urban working-class women distinct from pastoral shepherdesses or aristocratic ladies. Such characters show the diversity of female representation in classical poetry beyond the typical beloved or nymph. Poets invoke figures like Bombyce when depicting city entertainment culture, the lives of women who worked in music and performance, or the social world of banquets and symposia. The character helps students understand that classical poetry addressed various social classes and occupations, including those outside traditional elite or pastoral settings.