The Podcast of the Lotus Eaters - August 02, 2025


PREVIEW： Chronicles #8 ｜ Lysistrata By Aristophanes


Episode Stats

Length

16 minutes

Words per Minute

144.47272

Word Count

2,423

Sentence Count

132


Summary


Transcript

00:00:00.000 Hello, and welcome to this next episode of Chronicles, where today we're going to be
00:00:17.520 talking all about Lysistrata by Aristophanes, possibly the most famous comedy in all of
00:00:25.060 ancient Greece, and one of the 11 surviving comedies that we have from the world of old
00:00:31.840 ancient Greek comedy. And incidentally, all 11 of those are Aristophanes' plays, by sheer dumb luck
00:00:38.740 in many ways. Not that there wasn't other Greek writers creating comedy plays, but Aristophanes
00:00:44.960 naturally becomes known as the most famous, the most celebrated, and the most talented by sheer
00:00:50.860 dint of being the only one that we can actually read. The Greek form of old comedy, as we would
00:00:57.960 interpret it, that is comedy that came from the 5th century BC, the 400s, is markedly different
00:01:05.460 from the newer comedy that you have in the century after with a playwright such as Menander. As you'll
00:01:13.200 see as we go further into the plot of Lysistrata, it's entirely based around a very fantastical plot,
00:01:22.300 right? It kind of feels hyperbolic, everything's over the top, and it feels beyond belief, actually.
00:01:31.060 There's something really fantastical about it. Whereas when you compare it to newer comedies
00:01:36.340 in ancient Greece, they are more realistic. I'm not going to say they're realism as the form,
00:01:45.200 which is, of course, anachronistic, but just the plots are more believable, and the dialogue
00:01:51.440 reflects that as well. So let's begin to talk a little bit about Aristophanes and comedy. Because
00:01:59.540 the word comedy, of course, as it is in English, derives, like so many of the other words that we
00:02:06.740 have to describe acting and to describe theatre, the words theatre, drama, scene, episode, comedy,
00:02:14.780 tragedy, all of these words are based on ancient Greek words. And of course, comedy comes from
00:02:21.760 Comedia, which was originally Revel's song. So it obviously was a part of the very, very old ancient
00:02:30.620 Greek tradition of dithyrums, as they were called, which was very much about song and dance. And one of
00:02:38.700 the things you notice as well with the old comedy, and this one in particular, is that the chorus, as we
00:02:46.400 discussed it last week in Agamemnon, is still a very, very prominent part of the play. But another
00:02:54.200 thing that differentiates comedy from tragedy, other than, of course, you know, its function to make
00:03:01.500 you laugh, as opposed to making you blub big manly tears, is the fact that comedy is actually set in
00:03:11.300 contemporary times, right? Tragedy was something for the heroic past, right? You know, you based it on
00:03:19.340 Jason and the Argonauts, or the Trojan Wars, or the Odyssey, or, you know, ancient Greek Homeric
00:03:26.660 stories. Whereas comedy, as we'll see with Lysistrata, is based in contemporary times dealing with
00:03:35.760 contemporary political issues, mostly, of course, in Athens, though other neighbouring people would
00:03:42.620 have visited, you know, foreign dignitaries from other city-states, might have been honoured with
00:03:48.360 a seat to watch the festivities of their own, and possibly draw their own political conclusions from
00:03:55.380 it. But Lysistrata is one of three Aristophanes plays, actually, which are generally known as the
00:04:04.840 peace plays. So they are all political propaganda written by Aristophanes in order to create peace,
00:04:12.800 and peace out of what? Well, peace out of the Peloponnesian War, which by the time that Aristophanes
00:04:19.740 had written Lysistrata, had been going on for about two decades now. And Athens, by this point in the
00:04:28.140 war, it's after the Sicilian expedition and the loss of the Athenian navy. Athens is in a much more
00:04:37.180 strategically weak position than it had been even a few weeks prior. And we're now at a point where
00:04:44.760 Aristophanes is very much worried about the political upheavals and the tumult and chaos that will arise
00:04:54.900 should Athens be defeated in the war. And certainly Athens would go on to have massive political
00:05:02.500 changes from its defeat in the Peloponnesian War would basically cease to be for a period of time
00:05:09.280 that which it had once been in that golden era of democracy, which was so much a part of Athenian
00:05:17.960 cultural superiority that it enjoyed waving about to all of its inferior neighbors. So shall we begin
00:05:26.660 to discuss the events of the story?
00:05:32.920 Our story begins in Athens. Out on the street, an Athenian woman stands alone with the Acropolis at
00:05:40.060 her back, that landmark of Hellenic splendor. The woman is Lysistrata, the play's eponymous heroine.
00:05:48.360 She talks to herself irritably, waiting with visible vexation for other women to arrive.
00:05:54.520 One soon does. Her friend Kalanice. This gives Lysistrata someone to direct her ramps towards,
00:06:01.800 and she bemoans the tardiness of the other women. Our heroine then explains that this is all for a
00:06:07.480 matter of the utmost importance. The fate of all Greece could be in their hands. Kalanice dryly comments
00:06:14.520 that if Greece's fate is in the hands of their sex, then it is unlikely to be saved.
00:06:20.440 But Lysistrata insists that, in fact, women are uniquely placed to serve this duty,
00:06:26.840 and that her plan will not require anything outside of the natural limits of their sex.
00:06:33.320 Those are the very things which I assume will save us. Short dresses, perfumes, slippers, make-up,
00:06:39.240 and clothing men can see through. Another Athenian woman soon arrives, Myrone,
00:06:45.000 followed closely by Lampeto, a woman from Sparta. Taken aback by the Spartan specimen, the Athenians see
00:06:53.000 before them, Lysistrata cannot help but compliment Lampeto's breasts, and after the two engage in some
00:06:59.800 innuendo about the women from Corinth and Boeotia, Lysistrata begins to address a gathered about the
00:07:06.120 state of Greece and the absence of their husbands. By now, the armies engaged in the Peloponnesian
00:07:12.760 War have been ravaging the lands for two decades, with no end in sight. Lysistrata asks,
00:07:19.480 The fathers of your children, don't you miss them when they're away at war?
00:07:23.560 I know that not one of you has a husband at home. And the women reply in several answers,
00:07:29.560 Mine, my dear, has been away for four months, on the Thracian coast, keeping an eye on our general
00:07:35.320 there. And mine has been at Pylos for a full seven months. And as for my man, if he ever does turn up
00:07:42.760 at home, straight away he's fitted his shield on his arm and flown off again. Why, there isn't even
00:07:48.760 one to have an affair with. Not even the ghost of one. Since the Milanesians betrayed us,
00:07:54.360 I haven't even seen one of those six-inch leather jobs which used to help us when all else failed,
00:08:00.280 Lysistrata reassures them. Well then, if I found a way to do it, would you be prepared to join with
00:08:06.200 me in putting a stop to the war? The women are enthusiastic. By the holy twain, I would,
00:08:12.680 even if I had to cut myself in two like a flatfish and give half of myself for the cause.
00:08:18.760 I'd climb up to the top of Tigetis to get a glimpse of peace. Then I will tell you all plain,
00:08:24.680 there's no point in keeping it back. Women, if we want to force our men to make peace,
00:08:30.200 we must renounce. Sex.
00:08:34.200 Why are you turning away from me? Where are you going? What does all this
00:08:38.600 pursing of lips and tossing of heads mean? You're all going pale. I can see tears.
00:08:44.360 Will you do it or won't you? Answer me. And Mirreni comically replies, I won't do it. Just let the
00:08:50.440 war go on. The women protest that they will walk through fire, but they could never possibly swear
00:08:56.600 off sex. But after some pleading, Lysistrata manages to convince Lampeto of the plan. And hesitantly,
00:09:04.040 one by one, the women are persuaded to take an oath. To husband or lover, I'll not open arms.
00:09:11.160 Though love and denial may enlarge his charms. But still at home, ignoring him, I'll stay,
00:09:16.920 beautiful clad in saffron silks all day. If then he seizes me by dint of force,
00:09:23.160 I'll give him reason for a long remorse. I'll never lie and stare up at the ceiling,
00:09:28.440 nor like a lion on all fours go kneeling. If I can keep faith, then bounteous cups be mine.
00:09:35.400 If not, the nauseous water change this wine. The women wince and force themselves to repeat these
00:09:42.520 words, even though the thought of celibacy brings Paul Calanice to the brink of fainting.
00:09:47.880 Lampeto is then sent back to organize the women's movement in her native Sparta. And the other women
00:09:55.080 march on to the Acropolis and bar themselves inside. Now the women also hold the treasury
00:10:01.400 of Athens in their keeping. In retaliation, the chorus of old men clash with the chorus of women
00:10:08.440 in a storm of words, which then leads to the men trying to start a fire to smoke the women out,
00:10:14.520 until Stratilus, one of the elder women, is apprehended. The women douse the men in water,
00:10:20.920 quenching their fires and leaving the men ignominiously drenched. The ruckus draws in an
00:10:26.920 Athenian magistrate, who had been on his way up to the Acropolis to withdraw some money from the
00:10:32.440 treasury for the oars of the Athenian warships. Lysistrata informs the magistrate that the women
00:10:39.080 will now handle the Exchequer, which they will have a natural aptitude for, given that they
00:10:44.520 manage the household finances. Up until now, through this long war, we kept silent about all
00:10:50.680 those things you men were doing. We were being modest, and you did not allow us to speak up,
00:10:56.520 although we were not happy. But still, we listened faithfully to you, and often inside the house we
00:11:03.240 heard your wretched plans for some great deed. And if we ached inside, we'd force a smile and simply
00:11:10.200 ask, today in the assembly, did the men propose a treaty carved in stone decreeing peace? But our
00:11:17.080 husband said, is that your business? Why don't you shut up? And I'd stay silent. So there I am at home,
00:11:26.120 saying nothing. Then you'd tell us of another project, even stupider than before. We'd say,
00:11:32.760 how can you carry out a scheme like that? It's foolish. Immediately, he'd frown and say to me,
00:11:39.400 if you don't sping your thread, you'll get a major beating on your head. War is men's concern. Is that
00:11:46.120 sensible? Not to take advice when what you're proposing is so silly? Then we heard you speaking
00:11:52.920 in the streets, asking openly, are there any men still left here on our land? And someone said,
00:11:59.880 by God, there's no one. Well then, after that, it seemed to us we had to rescue Greece
00:12:06.840 by bringing wives into a single group with one shared aim. Why should we delay? If you'd like
00:12:13.480 to hear us give some good advice and start to listen, keep your mouths quite shut the way we did.
00:12:19.400 We'll save you from yourselves. After berating the Magistrate, Lysistrata then emasculates him
00:12:26.200 further by adorning him with her headdress and forcing a basket into his arms. Lysistrata is driven
00:12:33.400 by a single-minded purpose. She is tenacious, fending off all who would sabotage her plans,
00:12:41.320 both from outside and within. Many of the women, insatiable with lust and crumbling in principle,
00:12:48.600 plead with Lysistrata to let them leave the Acropolis, for a profusion of comical reasons.
00:12:55.000 They cannot uphold the sex strike. Lysistrata retreats indoors to bring discipline to her
00:13:01.320 rebellion. And coming closer, an Athenian warrior is seen in the distance. It is Senecius,
00:13:08.600 husband of Myrone, and he has brought their son and servant. Myrone goes out to him,
00:13:14.600 flirtatiously teasing him with her sensuality, driving him mad with sexual frustration.
00:13:20.840 You'd like to. Then, my little Myrone, lie down right here. You must be joking. In front of our
00:13:27.000 dear baby child? No, by god. Manus, take the boy back home. Alright then, lad's no longer in the
00:13:34.920 way. Lie down. But you silly man, where do we do it? Where? The Cave of Pan is an excellent place.
00:13:42.600 But, over and over, Myrone pretends to give in to her husband's desires, and leverages his
00:13:49.320 frustration into supporting a peace agreement. She then returns to the Acropolis, leaving her
00:13:55.880 husband humiliated and unsatisfied. He is not the only man in such a state. As a herald from Sparta
00:14:03.400 arrives, he comes beseeching an audience with the Athenian senate, with the intention of reaching a
00:14:09.720 settlement and ending the war. But Senecius, suspicious of the enemy's man, asks, if he is here for peace,
00:14:18.280 then why does he hand a lance beneath his cloak? Oh yes, is this one too? He indicates towards his
00:14:24.680 own phallus. You needn't think I'm a fool. What is the present situation in Sparta? It's a total
00:14:31.160 cock-up through all Laconia. All our allies are risen, and they're standing absolutely firm.
00:14:37.800 We've no got Pelion. The proud men of Sparta have been brought to heel by the sex strike, thanks to the
00:14:44.440 intervention of Lampeto. Upon the news of peace, the chorus of men and women fuse together,
00:14:51.480 finally uniting the two sexes in harmony. Lysistrata comes forward as a great peacemaker,
00:14:58.920 along with a woman of divine beauty and sexuality, known simply as Reconciliation.
00:15:05.880 Now unto you, O Spartans, do I speak. Do you forget how your own countrymen, Periclidus,
00:15:12.360 once came hither suppliant before our altars, pale in his purple robes, praying for an army when in
00:15:19.240 Mycenae, danger growling, and the sea god made earth quaver? Then with four thousand hoplites,
00:15:26.040 Simmon marched and saved all Sparta. Yet basing greats now, you are ravaging the soil of your
00:15:32.680 preservers. By Zeus. They do great wrong, Lysistrata. Great wrong indeed. Oh, what a luscious wench.
00:15:41.400 And now I turn to the Athenians. Have you forgotten too, how once the Spartans, in days when you wore
00:15:47.960 slavish tunics, came and with their spears broke a Thessalonian host, and all the partisans of Hippias?
00:15:55.960 They alone stood by your shoulder on that day. They freed you. So that for the slaves' short skirt,
00:16:03.000 you should wear the trailing cloak of liberty. I've never seen a noble woman anywhere.
00:16:09.960 Sex-starved Athenian and Spartan hosts negotiate who gets which part of the woman, I mean Greece's
00:16:16.680 regions. The Peloponnesian War is brought to an end. Gaiety and merriment erupt, with the Athenians
00:16:23.400 and Spartans dancing and drinking with one another, finally bringing about peace.
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00:16:46.200 Thank you.