It is at this point that Lysistrata rises to the occasion. The war is in a state of a stalemate and the two Greek city states keep counting the cost in money and in men. In Aristophanes’ Lysistrata, the eponymous heroine’s actions serve to counter the demeaning views held by men against women in society.

However, it becomes more serious when it is understood that the classical period of the Greeks was a deeply patriarchal clime when even scholars like Aristotle believed in the inferiority of the women in relation to men. This assertion might seem light when viewed from today’s level of gender awareness in society. It demonstrates that, contrary to what patriarchal ideologies would have us believe, women are capable of contributing meaningfully to the growth and development of society. It should be noted that in ancient Greece, plays were performed at the Lenaea and at the Great City Dionysia – two religious festivals in honour of Dionysus which included theatrical competitions.Īristophanes’ Lysistrata is a comedy with a blend of satire and lampoon. Lysistrata was written in 412 BC during the dark moments of the Peloponnesian War – a war fought in ancient Greece between Sparta and Athens between 431 and 405 BC. Lysistrata is eponymous because the title is the same as the name of the hero. Of course, while Sophocles was famous for his tragic plays, Aristophanes is widely known as the father of comedy. Lysistrata is an eponymous play by the Greek playwright, Aristophanes (446-386 BC), best known for his comic plays such as The Birds, The Wasps and The Frogs.

Lysistrata cliff notes