Aristophanes and Athens

The plays of Aristophanes are the oldest comedies which still survive. They are famous for their comic characters, their fantastic plots, their farcical action, and their earthy humour. But they are also highly topical, full of comments, both comic and serious, on politics and other current affairs in classical Athens.This book provides an accessible introduction to Aristophanes' plays, focusing particularly on their relationship to Athenianpolitics and life, and to the effect that Aristophanes hoped to have on his audience. All passages quoted from them are given in new verse translations, and readers do not need any knowledge of Greek.But scholarly problems are not ignored, and specialists will find here both new suggestions and summaries of different interpretations with recent bibliographical information in the notes.

“'the treatment of the play is thorough...There is much of value containedherein, especially from the point of view of the collection of issues.'Bryn Mawr Classical Review 7.3”

the treatment of the play is thorough...There is much of value contained herein, especially from the point of view of the collection of issues.'Bryn Mawr Classical Review 7.3a stimulating companion to the study of the works of Aristophanes ... The book is aimed mainly towards those meeting Aristophanes for the first time, though more seasoned readers will find much to stimulate them in this compact and clearly written guide. We must congratulate Professor Macdowall on producing a book which manages very successfully to cover a good deal of ground within a manageable format. He provides many shrewd insights into the works ofAristophanes, and underlines the importance of reading the plays against the backcloth of contemporary Athenian society and politics.'Richard Harrison, The Greek Gazette

Douglas M. Macdowell is Professor Emeritus of Greek at the University of Glasgow.

The plays of Aristophanes are the oldest comedies which still survive. They are famous for their comic characters, their fantastic plots, their farcical action, and their earthy humour. But they are also highly topical, full of comments, both comic and serious, on politics and other current affairs in classical Athens.This book provides an accessible introduction to Aristophanes' plays, focusing particularly on their relationship to Athenian politics and life, and to the effect that Aristophanes hoped to have on his audience. All passages quoted from them are given in new verse translations, and readers do not need any knowledge of Greek. But scholarly problems are not ignored, and specialists will find here both new suggestions and summaries of different interpretations with recent bibliographical information in the notes.

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