Aristophanis Comoediae (1783)

by Aristophanes

Aristophanis Comoediae (1783)
Title not held by The Wolf Law Library at the College of William & Mary.
Author	Aristophanes
Editor
Translator
Published	: Treuttel
Date	1783
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Language
Volumes	volume set
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Desc.

Argentorati: Sumtibus J. G. Treuttel, 1783.

Aristophanes (c.450/460-385 BCE) was one of the “leading comic dramatists” of Athens. He was considered a master of “Old Comedy” in his own time and remains popular today. Old Comedy has several distinguishing features including: an invented, original plot (in contrast to Greek tragedy which was based on well-known myths), and a fantastical setting which allowed the hero to accomplish the impossible. Aristophanes is believed to have written 40 plays, of which 11 survive. The plays are broad in their subject matter and examine contemporary Athenian politics (including the Peloponnesian War), philosophy, and the institutions of democracy including the jury system. Very little is known for certain about Aristophanes’ life beyond the date of production of his plays. Aristophanis Comodiae contains Aristophanes’s 11 surviving plays, and fragments of others. These plays are: Acharnians, Knights, Clouds, Wasps, Peace, Birds, Lysistrata, Women Celebrating the Thesmophoria, Frogs, The Assemblywomen, and Wealth.