ARISTOPHANES

Aristophanes was the greatest Greek comic playwright of the 5th century BC and eleven of his comedies have survived complete. Comedy in the days of Aristophanes, flourishing in a context of free speech in democratic Athens, was strongly political. In his works, Aristophanes criticised the failings of his city, speaking out against the war (Acharnians, Peace, Lysistrata) and deriding his fellow citizens for their flaws (Wasps, Birds). He also caricatured prominent figures of his time (Socrates in Clouds, Euripides in Thesmophoriazusae and Cleon in Knights) and even reflected on a poet’s role in society (Frogs). The works of Aristophanes, bold, caustic and yet remarkably discerning, ring true to this day, as shown by the frequent stagings of his plays by contemporary theatre companies.