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Summary Lysistrata and Greek Theatre
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An overview of Ancient Greek Theatre and the context in which Lysistrata was performed in
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History/ politics for Lysistrata· Aristophanes lifetime was one of extreme political turbulence. In his teens
Athens had fame, democracy and power over Greece. The balance of power
rested between the land-army of Sparta and the sea-power of Athens.
· However, in the 430sBC, Sparta and their allies the Corinthians, began to think
that Athens was taking too much power and the Peloponnesian war began in
431BC.
· The war continued for many years at a ‘stale-mate’ and was compounded by the
great plague of 430-426BC which killed a great number of Athenians. In 421BC
a peace compromise was reached, but by 415BC, Athens had invaded Sicily.
The Athenians were defeated and the Spartans took the opportunity to build a
fortified base outside of Athens, causing the net wave of the Peloponnesian
Conflict.
· Aristophanes took influence from the Battle of Syracuse – a bloody battle in
which thousands of young Athenians and Spartans were killed. The number of
young men in Athens was depleted and democracy was failing. The Elders of
Athens had, for a number of years, been unable to solve the conflict and bring
peace.
· The evidence we have of the era suggests that 4th Century Athenians thought
that comedy could exert influence over public opinion or public policy.
· Aristophanes was an Athenian citizen and consequently cared about the
decisions taken on key political issues.
· In 421 in Scione and 415 in Melos, both cities had been completely destroyed,
the males exterminated and the women enslaved. Aristophanes was concerned
that Athens might suffer the same fate if the war with Sparta continued.
· The public Theatre Festival gave playwrights of the time the biggest citizen
audience that any public discourse could have. They considered it an
opportunity, like Brecht, to create didactic theatre to educate and generate
political change.
· Citizens had to pay to attend the theatre and so it is likely that
poorer/uneducated citizens would have been under-represented. The most
important and wealthy citizens and politicians, like those who were the focus of
the satire, would have been watching.
, · Aristophanes was not a pacifist. Within the play he fully shares the pride in
victories achieved by the Athenians over the Persians and at Marathon or
Salamis. He is concerned that these areas might rise up against Athens again.
· Aristophanes primary aim in Lysistrata is to show his political ideal – that Athens
and Sparta should ‘rule Greece together’ in friendly collaboration. We know that
this never happened.
Theatre of the Time:
· The Festival of Lenaea took place in January in the city of Athens. It was a local
festival which focused on Old Comedy.
· Plays were performed in the day time in an amphitheatre with a capacity of
roughly 14,000.
· Men would attend the theatre without their wives and the front seats were
reserved for priests, officials and those in prominent positions within the city.
· Preparations began several months before the festival when the BASILEUS took
office, charged with overseeing the arrangements. Their first duty was to select
the playwrights who would be allowed to perform. The second was to find
sponsors or CHOROGOI to select the Chorus, pay for their training and equip
them with costume. He also hired a piper to accompany their song. Men with
considerable financial means were chosen as Chorogoi and, once chosen, it
was their civic duty to take up the task. There is evidence to suggest that being
selected was an enormous honour and proof of public spirit. Each CHOREGOS
was responsible for one play.
· The Chorus of Lysistrata were trained by a producer (known as a DIDASKALOI)
called Callistratus. The five Protagonists (main actors) were usually selected by
lot.
· Two days before the festival, a preview (PRO-AGON) was held in the ODEON.
The producer and playwright presented the actors without costume or masks
and announced the play’s title. When Lysistrata was announced, the citizens
would have known that her name means LIQUIDATOR OF ARMIES and would
have had an expectation that this was one of Aristophanes ‘Peace Plays’.
· The Festival was competitive and prizes were awarded for best protagonist, best
Chorus and best play.
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