Disenchanted with the corruption of their native Athens, a pair of friends unite with the birds to found an idyllic city in the clouds. Widely acknowledged as Aristophanes' masterpiece, this sparkling fantasy resounds with comic vitality, combining witty dialog, interludes of exquisite lyricism, and clever stage effects for an irresistible extravaganza.

This volume is the first edition with commentary since 1907 of Aristophanes' last surviving play, in which, as so often before, an audacious and imaginative hero finds a miraculous remedy for the all-too-real ills of the contemporary world in this case the concentration of wealth in the hands of those who don't deserve it at the expense of ...

Clouds has always fascinated students of philosophy because of its portrayal of Socrates as an atheist and a teacher of dishonest rhetoric, justly punished by the agents of the gods whom he refuses to recognise. [Greek text with facing translation, commentary and notes. 2007 reprint of the 1991 third edition, with addenda and a new bibliography.]

Wasps was first performed at the festival of the Lenaia early in 422 B.C. It is arguably one of Aristophanes' most entertaining and characteristic works, and the lack of serious difficulties in the text makes it accessible to the less advanced student of Greek. This edition, first published in 1971, is intended for students and scholars, stressing the comic and dramatic qualities of the play while treating the text more as a performance script than as a work of literature. In addition to the revised Greek text, MacDowell includes a lively introduction, full apparatus criticus, a commentary with translations, and two indexes.

This classic comedy — from the 5th century BC — concerns the vow of Greek women to withhold sex from their husbands until the men agree to end the disastrous wars between Athens and Sparta. An exuberant battle of the sexes with underlying anti-war theme.

In "The Clouds," Aristophanes crafts a sharp and satirical comedy that critiques the intellectual trends of 5th-century Athens, particularly the rise of sophistry and the emerging new philosophies. Through the lens of the character Strepsiades, the play delves into themes of education, morality, and the absurdity of contemporary thought, employing a rich tapestry of wit, wordplay, and farcical situations. Aristophanes'Äôs trademark use of exaggerated characters and poetic language not only entertains but also provokes profound reflections on societal values and the relevance of genuine wisdom versus cunning rhetoric. Aristophanes, a seminal figure in Ancient Greek theater, thrived during a time of significant cultural and philosophical transformation. Growing up in a society grappling with the aftermath of war and political upheaval, his experiences deeply informed his criticisms of social institutions and philosophical pretensions. His commitment to exploring the complexities of human nature and the follies of contemporary life is vividly realized in "The Clouds," showcasing his exceptional ability to blend humor with incisive social commentary. I highly recommend "The Clouds" to readers interested in the interplay of comedy and philosophy, as well as those eager to understand the foundations of Western thought and humor. The play'Äôs timeless themes resonate with modern audiences, inviting them to question their beliefs and the merit of certain ideologies, making it a quintessential read for anyone seeking intellectual enrichment through the lens of ancient satire.

This new translation attempts to inform the general as well as the more specialized reader of what Aristophanes put on stage in 423 B.C. It remains more or less faithful to the original Greek, avoiding radical changes that would make the Clouds conform to linguistic "fads" at the very end of the twentieth century.

A contemporary translation of one of Aristophanes' comedies with scholarly notes and introduction.

Frogs is by common consent one of the finest achievements of Aristophanes (456 BC to 386 BC), the greatest writer of comic drama in classical Athens and among most famous writers of dramatic comedy in our Western tradition. The play was first performed at a Festival of Dionysus in Athens in 405 BC, at a time when the disastrous Peloponnesian War between Athens and Sparta was nearing its end. The production so popular that it received the extraordinary honor of a second production and Aristophanes received a special honor from the city.In the play the god Dionysus, in the form of a middle-aged human being, insists on travelling to Hades to bring back the tragic poet Euripides (who had died the year before), so that Athens can once again enjoy fine poetry. His slave Xanthias accompanies him. The trip is full of robust comical encounters with a range of characters, including Hercules, Charon, the famous Chorus of the Frogs, various underworld figures, and, finally Euripides and Aeschylus, who stage a debate over which of them is the greatest poet, an argument which has them mercilessly satirizing each other's workFor all its extremely funny stage business, Frogs raises some important and still relevant questions about the nature of dramatic art and the role of the dramatist. It also explores and exposes the self-serving attitudes of citizens during a time of war.