Aristophanis Comoediae (1783)
by Aristophanes
| Aristophanis Comoediae (1783) | ||
 at the College of William & Mary. |
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| Author | Aristophanes | |
| Published | : Sumtibus J. G. Treuttel | |
| Date | 1783 | |
Aristophanes (c.450/460-385 BCE) was one of the “leading comic dramatists” of Athens.[1] 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.[2] 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.[3]
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.
Evidence for Inclusion in Wythe's Library
See also
References
- ↑ Alan Sommerstein, “Aristophanes,” The Encyclopedia of Ancient History (Hoboken: Wiley, 2012), accessed March 24, 2015.
- ↑ Lois Spatz, Aristophanes (Boston, Twayne Publishers, 1978), 24.
- ↑ Kenneth McLeish and Trevor R. Griffiths, A Guide to Greek Theatre and Drama (London: Methuen Drama, 2003), 195.
