Aristophanes
1) The Birds
The Birds is a comic play by the Greek playwright Aristophanes. It garnered awards in 141 BC when it was first performed, and continues to be critically received today. A middle-aged Athenian convinces the world's birds to build a new city between the heavens and the earth. This position fortuitously allows them to intercept all communication of gods and men. The Athenian is transformed into a bird-like figure and with the help of his winged
...2) Lysistrata
One of the few plays that survived intact from the heyday of ancient Grecian drama, Lysistrata is an enormously influential work of satirical comedy. In order to bring an end to a destructive and never-ending war, the women of Greece take a temporary vow of chastity, pledging to remain abstinent until the conflict ends. As can be expected, mayhem—and hilarity—ensues.
7) The Clouds
Today, we tend to picture ancient Greece as a land of togas, lyres and plenty of philosophical pondering—but even back then, people were annoyed with the likes of Socrates, Plato and other intellectual blowhards. Brilliant playwright Aristophanes mercilessly skewers pretentious intellectuals in his comic masterwork The Clouds.