Language/Modern-greek-1453/Culture/Lysistrata-by-Aristophanes

Lysistrata

Lysistrata by Aristophanes

Lysistrata is an ancient pacifist comedy by Aristophanes, written and performed in 411 BC. It is considered one of the earliest and most iconic pacifist plays.

The plot recounts a sex strike led by the women of Athens and Sparta to try to convince their husbands to end the Peloponnesian War.

Lysistrata is one of the earliest and perhaps the most famous erotic comedies ever written. The women, led by Lysistrata, decide to end the war and restore peace to their country. Among them, besides Lysistrata, are the Athenian Cleonice, the young woman Murrhine, and the Spartan Lampito. The original idea comes from Lysistrata, who, for this reason, secretly invites all the Athenian women and representatives from other ancient city-states. The women gather, but when Lysistrata proposes they take a vow of sexual abstinence until the men decide to end the war, they initially oppose it. Finally, after much hesitation, they are persuaded when the Spartan woman Lampito also actively participates in her plan. The decision is sealed with an oath over a glass of wine. The women's plan also triumphs in Sparta; a Spartan herald arrives and asks the Athenians to appoint representatives to begin peace negotiations. The Spartan and Athenian envoys turn to Lysistrata to help find a compromise. Thanks to her striking beauty, Lysistrata succeeds in embodying reconciliation between the two states. This play represents one of Aristophanes' masterpieces. It is his last attempt to establish peace. At the end of the play, peace is achieved through mutual concessions.

The reconciliation is sealed by the Spartan bard, who invokes and praises deities that the Athenians also recognize and venerate. With its sophisticated structure, its wealth of comic elements, and its magnificent themes of peace, reconciliation, and the role of women in the family, society, and state, this comedy continues to be performed and read with great success throughout the world.

Author

➡ Marianthi

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