. Aristophanes

Aristophanes was a Greek comic playwright who lived from 446 to 386 BC. He was born in Athens and little is known about his early life. He began writing plays in the late 5th century BC and went on to become one of the most famous and celebrated writers of his time. Aristophanes wrote more than 40 plays. His plays were performed at the Dionysia, a festival held in honor of the god of wine and theater, and were known for their political satire and social commentary. Aristophanes' plays often...See more

Aristophanes was a Greek comic playwright who lived from 446 to 386 BC. He was born in Athens and little is known about his early life. He began writing plays in the late 5th century BC and went on to become one of the most famous and celebrated writers of his time. Aristophanes wrote more than 40 plays. His plays were performed at the Dionysia, a festival held in honor of the god of wine and theater, and were known for their political satire and social commentary. Aristophanes' plays often mocked the political and cultural institutions of Athens, including its leaders and philosophers. He was a vocal critic of the Peloponnesian War, which he believed was damaging Athens and its people. His plays were also notable for their use of bawdy humor and wordplay. Despite his satirical tone, Aristophanes was also an accomplished poet and his works are noted for their beauty and lyricism. He was a master of language and his writing influenced the development of comedy in Western literature. Today, Aristophanes is regarded as one of the greatest comic playwrights in history, and his works continue to be studied and performed around the world. See less