{Greek Literature [continued (11)] [Comedy [continued (3)]]}[8th February 1991]

[Redbook8:243-244][19910208:1520k]{Greek Literature [continued (11)] [Comedy [continued (3)]]}[8th February 1991]

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‘At Athens, comedy became an official part of the celebrations of Dionysus in 486BC[E]. The first great comic poet was Gratinus. About 50 years later Aristophanes and Eupolis refined somewhat the wild robustness of the older poet. But even so, for boldness of fantasy, for merciless invective, for unabashed indecency, and for freedom of political criticism, there is nothing like the Old Comedy of Aristophanes, whose work alone has survived. Cleon the politician, Socrates the philosopher, Euripides the poet were alike victims of his masterly unfairness, the first in Knights; the second in Clouds; and the third in Women at the Thesmophoria and Frogs; whereas in Birds, the Athenian democracy itself was held up to a kindlier ridicule. Aristophanes survived the fall of Athens in 404[bce], but the Old Comedy had no place in the revived democracy.’

*

*[ibid [Encyclopaedia Britannica 20:] 401-402]

(& see which on Middle Comedy – early 4^th century [bce], social satire and parody; & New Comedy, end 4^th century [bce]:....)

[See next entry]

[& see [Redbook8:257][19910214:1610l]{Classical Greek Dramatists [continued (13)][– Aristophanes]]}[14th February 1991]]

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