Aristophanes Complete Works (11 volumes)

Description

If there is one ancient playwright whose works everyone can name at least two of, it is Aristophanes. Born in the mid-5th century B.C., he lived through the “Golden Age” and, in his plays—always with a satirical and biting tone—depicted the major personalities (Cleon, Socrates, the Sophists, Euripides, Aeschylus, and others) and the events (especially the Peloponnesian War) that shaped his era.

With his comedies, Aristophanes competed in the Dionysia and the Lenaia festivals. He won first prize at the Dionysia with The Babylonians (a comedy that unfortunately has not survived) and later took first prize at the Lenaia in 425 B.C. with The Acharnians and at the Lenaia in 405 B.C. with The Frogs. Eleven of his comedies have survived intact.

Aristophanes’ works had a significant influence on later writers, particularly those who wrote satirical theatre. They are also of great historical importance, as they preserve details about the people and events of his time.

The series, which includes the original text, modern Greek translation, and commentary, consists of 11 volumes:

• The Acharnians
• Clouds
• Plutus
• Wasps
• Lysistrata
• Frogs
• Peace
• Knights
• Ecclesiazusae
• The Thesmophoriazusae
• The Birds