Aristophanes and Old Comedy in Athens (c. 446–386 BCE)

1. Aristophanes begins career in festival comedy

   Jan 1, 427 BCELabels: Aristophanes, Dionysia, Old Comedy

   • Britannica
   • Old Comedy

2. Acharnians wins Lenaia with antiwar theme

   Jan 1, 425 BCELabels: Acharnians, Lenaia, Aristophanes

   • Hellenica
   • Acharnians

3. Knights wins Lenaia, attacking Cleon

   Jan 1, 424 BCELabels: Knights, Cleon, Lenaia

   • Knights
   • Old Comedy

4. Clouds staged, later known for Socrates satire

   Jan 1, 423 BCELabels: Clouds, Socrates, Aristophanes

   • World History
   • Britannica

5. Wasps produced, satirizing jury culture

   Jan 1, 422 BCELabels: Wasps, jury system, Aristophanes

   • Britannica
   • Oxford Acad

6. Peace performed at City Dionysia

   Jan 1, 421 BCELabels: Peace, City Dionysia, Aristophanes

   • Britannica
   • Peace

7. Birds wins second prize at City Dionysia

   Jan 1, 414 BCELabels: Birds, City Dionysia, Aristophanes

   • Why Athens
   • Aristophanes

8. Lysistrata staged at Lenaia with women-led peace plot

   Jan 1, 411 BCELabels: Lysistrata, Lenaia, Aristophanes

   • Lysistrata
   • World History

9. Thesmophoriazusae likely staged at City Dionysia

   Jan 1, 411 BCELabels: Thesmophoriazusae, City Dionysia, Aristophanes

   • Thesmophoria
   • Britannica

10. Frogs wins Lenaia as Athens nears defeat

    Jan 1, 405 BCELabels: Frogs, Lenaia, Aristophanes

    • UCL Guide
    • World History

11. Assemblywomen marks late shift toward social satire

    Jan 1, 391 BCELabels: Assemblywomen, Aristophanes, social satire

    • Assemblywomen
    • Aristophanes

12. Plutus produced, showing movement away from Old Comedy

    Jan 1, 388 BCELabels: Plutus, Aristophanes, Wealth

    • Plutus
    • Britannica

13. Aristophanes dies, leaving Old Comedy’s main legacy

    Jan 1, 388 BCELabels: Aristophanes, Old Comedy, legacy

    • Britannica
    • Aristophanes