Lysistrata

The Athenian comedian Aristophanes staged about 40 comedies over the course of his career, 11 of which are preserved.   Athens is always squarely at the center of Aristophanes’ comedies, with current events and political goings-on directly referenced.  Athens in this period was very much dependent on the resources of its allies and tributary states; imperialism brought with it luxury and excess, in Aristophanes’ view, and in turn demagoguery prevailed within the democracy.