Special Sub-Topic: Lesson on 'Lysistrata' Click Here To Play: Lesson on 'Lysistrata'

First, to give some historical context: According to many historians, Aristophanes' play is said to be typical of the Old Comedy period. When was this play written?

fifth century BCE. Written in 411 BCE, "Lysistrata" remains as one of the few of Aristophanes' surviving comedies. However, since Aristophanes' comedies are the only extant comedies of the fifth century BCE, it is argued among scholars that other playwrights most likely followed a similar form.

What two Greek city-states are at war with each other in the play?

Athens and Sparta. This play was meant to serve as a political and social commentary regarding the Peloponnesian War.

True or False: The Greek women agree to refrain from having sex with their men, in order to put an end to the war.

t. According to Lysistrata, if the women "do not yield to [the men] at all but just hold off, they'll make a truce in no time" (Aristophanes). This is the women's major ploy in putting an end to the war.

What famous Greek landmark do the women seize, which is used as the setting for almost the whole remainder of the play?

Acropolis & the Acropolis. A huge mountainous hill in Athens, the Acropolis was used as the site for many famous Greek buildings (such as the Parthenon) as well as being considered a Periclean (Pericles was an ancient Athenian ruler in the fifth century BCE) example of the 'ideal city-state,' since it served as the main site for the city of Athens.

Who are Lysistrata's two closest Athenian female friends?

Kalonike and Myrrhina. Kalonike (the outspoken one) and Myrrhina (the starry eyed one) are Lysistrata's closest friends in Athens. Lampito is the leader for the Spartan women; while Ceres is the Roman equivalent of the Greek corn-goddess, Demeter.

Who is Myrrhina's husband?

Cinesias. Aside from Telemachus (who is Odysseus' son from Homer's Greek epic poem, "The Odyssey"), all of these characters are present within the play. Cinesias is humiliated by his wife, who he lures out of the Acropolis in the hopes of copulating with her.

Who concedes to Lysistrata's plan first: the Athenian women or the Spartan women?

Spartan & Spartan women. All of the women groan and mumble about Lysistrata's seemingly ridiculous plan to withdraw from sex, but Lampito (leader of the Spartan women) agrees to the terms, while Kalonike and Myrrhina are still complaining about the plan.

After suffering a 'sexless' existence for a short while, the women get agitated in the Acropolis. Three women (at different times) use bogus stories in a futile attempt to escape from Lysistrata and the Acropolis. Which of the following is not used by any of the three women?

one has left her baby at home who must fed and washed. Except for the baby excuse, three different women use these excuses, which, aside from the bronze helmet, hold sexual connotations within the context of the play. The excuse of the unfed and unwashed baby is used by Cinesias (Myrrhina's husband) in order to lure her out of the Acropolis.

What is the name of the nude character, who represents a map of Greece and the epitome of sexual attractiveness, in a final attempt to initiate a peace agreement between the warring cities?

Harmony. The Athenian and Spartan women's employment of the enticing and sexy figure of Harmony is what ultimately secures the truce between Athens and Sparta.

Here's a give away... True or False: after a peace is made, the warring states have a huge party together, where the drink is flowing and music is playing.

t. After an agreement is reached, the Athenians and Spartans (men and women alike) enter the Acropolis and partake in a huge feast together, in order to secure the newly agreed upon peace.

What is the name of the nude character, who represents a map of Greece, and initiates the peace agreement between the warring city-states?

Harmony.