Aristophanes of Athens
The master of ancient Greek comedy, Aristophanes blended bawdy humor with sharp political satire and philosophical commentary. His plays are the only surviving complete examples of Old Comedy. He lampooned Socrates, Euripides, and Athenian democracy with equal irreverence.
Works
- The CloudsComedy satirizing Socrates and sophistic philosophy in Athens
- The BirdsFantasy comedy of birds building an ideal utopian city in sky
- LysistrataComedy where women seize power through sex strike to end war
- The FrogsComedy where playwrights contest for supremacy in the underworld
- The WaspsComedy satirizing the Athenian legal system and jury obsession