Transcript Aristophanes

Aristophanes
By
Alexandra Briggs
Aristopha-who?
•Aristophanes was a comic poet and playwright who lived in Greece, circa. 448380BC
•Very little is known about the man and his life, including his year of birth and
death (which have been estimated from the dates of his works), where he was from
and his parentage.
•Many different cities claim that he was born there. However, it is thought that he
was an adopted citizen of Athens due to Athenian parentage. The most
probable story is that his was the son of Philippus of Ægina.
• It is almost definite that he was educated in Athens and was a student of
Prodicus.
•His 3 sons – Araros, Philippos and Nicostratus – were also comic poets.
Comedy Career
• Aristophanes is known as the “Father of Comedy” and the “Prince of Ancient
Comedy”.
• He was a Greek Old Comic dramatist, who deeply developed the Old Attic
Comedy.
• His works are the only surviving examples of Old Attic Comedy.
• Old Attic Comedy still greatly used the techniques of the chorus, mime and
burlesque, and used bold fantasy and invective (abusive or violent language),
satire, humour and political criticism.
• He is thought to have written 40-44 plays, 11 of which survive today.
• There was a lot of political content in his plays, one of which is thought to be
the first example of an anti-war play.
• They satirised well known Athenians of the time and their conduct in the
Peloponnesian War. This included Statesman Cleon, who prosecuted him
several times due to the content of his material and who also tried to deprive
Aristophanes of his civic rights, on the grounds of illegitimacy, in revenge.
The Lost Plays (Dated)
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Banqueters (427BC)
Babylonians (426BC)
Farmers (424BC)
Merchant Ships (423BC)
Clouds (1st version - 423BC)
Proagon (422BC)
Amphiaraos (414BC)
Plutus (Wealth, 1st version - 408BC)
Gerytades (probably 407BC)
Kokalos (387BC)
Aiolosikon (2nd version - 386BC)
The Lost Plays (Undated)
•Polyidos
• Aiolosikon (first
version)
•Seasons
• Anagyros
•Storks
• Frying Pan Men
•Telemessians
• Daidalos
•Triphales
• Danaids
•Thesmophoriazusae (Women at the
• Centaur
Thesmophoria Festival, second
• Heroes
version)
• Lemnian Women
•Women in Tents
• Old Age
• Peace (second version
• Phoenician Women
Surviving Plays
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The Achamians (425BC)
The Knights (424BC)
The Clouds (original - 423BC, revised - 419-416BC)
The Wasps (422BC)
Peace (first version - 421BC)
The Birds (414BC)
Lysistrata (411BC)
Thesmophoriazusae (Women at the Thesmophoria
Festival, first version - c. 411BC)
• The Frogs (405BC)
• Ecclesiazusae (The Assemblywomen - c. 392 BC)
• Plutus (Wealth second version – 388BC)