Calonice is Lysistrata’s neighbor, and just like Lysistrata, Calonice is respectable middle-class housewife. Think of her as the Ethel Mertz to Lysistrata’s Lucy Ricardo.

Who is Myrrhine's husband in Lysistrata?

A man suddenly appears, desperate for sex. It is Kinesias, the husband of Myrrhine. Lysistrata instructs her to torture him. Myrrhine informs Kinesias that she will have sex with him but only if he promises to end the war.

Who is the antagonist in Lysistrata?

The Chorus of Old Men and the Magistrate serve as the antagonists in Aristophanes, Lysistrata.

Who is the hero in Lysistrata?

All of this served as ammunition for Aristophanes‘ play. In Lysistrata, the women of both Athens and Sparta go on strike to force the men to stop the war and make peace. Through the outspoken hero of the play, Lysistrata, Aristophanes is provided an avenue for his anti-war views.

Who was Lampito in Lysistrata?

Lampito. Lampito is representative of Spartan women. Lampito is a large, well-built woman who American audiences might imagine with a thick Appalachian accent (by Arrowsmith’s translation, Sparta was the Greek equivalent of the stereotypically South). Lampito brings the Spartan women into Lysistrata’s plan.

What is Myrrhine to Kinesias?

Myrrhine acts as the female seductress in this scene and positions herself as an idealized female or subject to male attraction. Myrrhine plays at the woman her husband desires. The comedy lies in Myrrhine’s exploitation of Kinesias’s ideal female and the audience’s knowledge that Kinesias will not get what he wants.

Who was Myrrhine?

Myrrhine is a local gal—a young housewife from Athens. At first, Myrrhine isn’t that prominent a character. She seems pleasant enough, and is eager to do her part for the team, but Lysistrata’s neighbor Calonice is more of a stand-out.

Is Lysistrata a heroine?

Lysistrata, an Athenian woman is the play’s heroine; her name is significant in itself, as it means “she who disbands the armies” (Page 467, footnote 2).

What period is Lysistrata?

“Lysistrata” was first staged in 411 BCE, just two years after Athens’ catastrophic defeat in the Sicilian Expedition, a turning-point in the long-running Peloponnesian War aginst Sparta, and, after 21 years of war, there seemed as little prospect of peace as ever.

Who wrote about the Peloponnesian War?

Thucydides is the author of History of the Peloponnesian War, a sweeping contemporary account of the nearly three-decade conflict between Athens and Sparta for dominance of the Greek world. The eight-volume work is regarded as one of the finest works of history ever written.

Article first time published on

Why is Lysistrata the protagonist?

Lysistrata definitely stands out as the protagonist of this play. Before the action even starts, she’s got her whole plan worked out; as a result, she’s basically the one who gets the action going. And she not only gets it going, but she keeps it going.

What style is Lysistrata?

Drama, Comedy That’s because Lysistrata is a play. It’s meant to be performed—although, given the kind of stuff that happens in Lysistrata, it’s unlikely that any principal would allow Lysistrata to be performed in drama class.

What does weaving symbolize in Lysistrata's conversation with the magistrate?

Using “sewing” or “spinning” or “weaving” as a metaphor for “togetherness” has a long and illustrious history. Shucks, even today we talk about “a tightly knit family” or “patching up a relationship” or “a well-woven story.” When we want to talk about cohesiveness, we reach for the needle and thread.

What kind of leader is Lysistrata?

In conclusion Aristophanes has shown Lysistrata’s good leadership qualities such as organisation, manipulation and persuasion, her own passionate way of speaking and her ability to incite passion in others in a well rounded manner that makes her both identifiable to the other women and stand out as an independent, …

Does Lysistrata have a husband?

Answer and Explanation: Lysistrata’s marital status is not defined in the play.

What makes Lysistrata unique?

Lysistrata also uses different language than the other women; she is smarter, has more wit and has a more serious tone than the others. This too contributes to her ability as a leader of Greece. By the end of the play, the men call upon Lysistrata to make the treaty between Sparta and Athens.

What is Lysistrata's plan for ending the war?

In attendance at the meeting are women from Athens and other cities, including Sparta. At the meeting, Lysistrata announces her plan: the women should all refuse to have sex with their husbands until their husbands end the war.

Why is Lysistrata annoyed at the beginning of the play?

Lysistrata is not only angered because the women won’t prioritize war and the peace of their country, but she is ashamed that the women won’t stand up to the stereotypes and names that their husband’s give them. Lysistrata tells Kleonike, “I’m positively ashamed to be a woman”, and Kleonike proudly admits, “That’s us!”

Which of the following is among Lysistrata's suggestions in the wool metaphor?

Lysistrata tells her captive audience member how Greece should be taken care of and repaired. The extended wool metaphor she employs describes Athens as a whole city, as a body of citizens. Lysistrata believes that the whole city must be cleaned and the burs, or bad men, and corruption should be removed.

What is the purpose of the Greek chorus in Lysistrata?

During the early days of Greek theater, the primary role of the chorus was in the transitions of the scenes, due to the fact that there was a “clear need to distract the audience while the actors went off-stage to change clothes and costumes.” (“Chorus in Greek”) As the actors prepared for their next act, the chorus …

Who wrote Medea?

Medea, Greek Mēdeia, tragedy by Euripides, performed in 431 bce. One of Euripides’ most powerful and best known plays, Medea (431 bc;…

What happens after there is a truce in Lysistrata?

Using Peace as a map of Greece, the Spartan and Athenian leaders decide land rights that will end the war. After both sides agree, Lysistrata gives the women back to the men and a great celebration ensues.

Who were the Peloponnesian wars fought between?

The Peloponnesian War was a war fought in ancient Greece between Athens and Sparta—the two most powerful city-states in ancient Greece at the time (431 to 405 B.C.E.). This war shifted power from Athens to Sparta, making Sparta the most powerful city-state in the region.

What is the lioness on the cheese grater position?

There is also a proverb: “I will not position myself like a lioness on a cheese-grater”* This means “in the way a lioness would”, and it is a shameful and whorish sexual position. A cheese-grater is a knife.

Who won Peloponnesian War?

Athens was forced to surrender, and Sparta won the Peloponnesian War in 404 BC. Spartans terms were lenient. First, the democracy was replaced by on oligarchy of thirty Athenians, friendly to Sparta.

Why is Solon important to ancient history?

Solon, the Athenian politician and lawmaker: Solon (638-558 BC) was an Athenian politician, lawmaker and poet. He is considered as the first innovative lawmaker that set the ground for the creation of democracy, the governmental system that made Athens powerful and granted the city its fame all over the centuries.

What is the central theme of History of Peloponnesian War?

Athenian Imperialism and the Problem of Justice Thucydides’ central theme is Athenian imperialism. Repeatedly in his pages we hear Athens’ spokesmen defend the city’s imperialism by denying that “right” or justice has any role in relations between cities.

What is a satyr in Greek Theatre?

The satyr play is a form of Attic theatre performance related to both comedy and tragedy. It preserves theatrical elements of dialogue, actors speaking verse, a chorus that dances and sings, masks and costumes.

Who gave the world its first treaty of drama?

According to ancient tradition, Thespis was the first actor in Greek drama. He was often called the inventor of tragedy, and his name was recorded as the first to stage a tragedy at the Great (or City) Dionysia (c. 534 bc).

What do the women's chorus use on the old men's chorus to get them to stop?

A chorus of old women carrying pitchers of water then enters. They confront the old men and a verbal battle ensues, ending with the chorus of women dumping their pitchers of water over the men’s heads.

When was Lysistrata written?

Aristophanes, the great comic dramatist of Athens, wrote the Lysistrata for performance in February 411 BC, probably at the Lenaia.