When was Aristophanes born and where did he live?
Aristophanes was born around 446 BC in the deme of Kydathenaion. He was an Athenian citizen whose father was named Philippus and whose mother was Zenodora.
Common questions about Aristophanes
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What happened to Aristophanes's play The Clouds after its original performance?
The Clouds was awarded third place or last place after its original performance. The text that has come down to the modern age was a subsequent draft that Aristophanes intended to be read rather than acted.
Which play by Aristophanes targeted the politician Cleon and what was the result?
In The Knights, Aristophanes depicted Cleon as a corrupt slave who duped his master, the Athenian people. The play was so effective that it caused Cleon to be elected to the prestigious board of ten generals just a few weeks after its performance.
How many plays did Aristophanes write and how many survive today?
Aristophanes wrote forty plays in total, but only eleven survive virtually complete. These surviving plays make him the most valuable source for understanding Old Comedy.
What was the relationship between Aristophanes and the philosopher Socrates?
Plato singled out The Clouds as slander that contributed to the trial and subsequent death of Socrates, although other satirical playwrights had also caricatured the philosopher. Aristophanes was the only playwright in history to be accused of causing the death of a philosopher.