Aristophanes Among Athenians

D. Lateiner
Rosaria Vignolo Munson, Swarthmore College

Abstract

This chapter situates Aristophanes in his historical context. It examines the political and historical circumstances surrounding each of his plays in chronological order, as well as Aristophanes’ engagement in his plays with major political figures during the events of the Peloponnesian War and its aftermath. It is designed to introduce new readers of Aristophanes to the historical circumstances in which he composed his comedies, as well as to advance an argument in favor of a historicizing approach to ancient comedy.