Definition: Aristophanes is the only representative of Old Comedy whose work we have in complete form. Old Comedy had been performed for 60 years prior to Aristophanes, and in his time, as shown in his work, Old Comedy was changing. Aristophanes wrote comedies from 427-386 B.C., which gives us approximate dates for his life: (c. 448-385 B.C.). Unfortunately, we know very little about Aristophanes, although he lived in Athens during periods of turmoil, beginning his writing career after the death of Pericles.
Aristophanes knew Socrates and poked fun at him in The Clouds, as an example of a sophist. Aristophanes appears in Plato's Symposium, as well.
Of the 40 plays written by Aristophanes, 11 survive. Modern performances of Aristophanes' comedies continue to make people laugh.
Aristophanes is on the list of Most Important People to Know in Ancient History.
Pronunciation: /æ.rɪ.sta.fə.niz/
Examples:
In Aristophanes' Frogs, Dionysus, like Hercules before him, goes to the Underworld to bring back Euripides.
