Антични комедии

by Aristophanes, Menander, Plautus

Аристофан
- Мира;
- Жените в Народното събрание;
- Плутос
Менадър
- Мъчният човек
Плавт
- Гърнето;
- Менехмовците;
- Войникът самохвалец
Теренций
- Братята

Genres: Classics, Plays, Fiction, Poetry, Comedy, Humor, Theatre

525 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1985

About the author

Aristophanes (Greek: Αριστοφάνης; c. 446 – c. 386 BC) was an Ancient Greek comic playwright from Athens and a poet of Old Attic Comedy. He wrote in total forty plays, of which eleven survive virtually complete today. These provide the most valuable examples of a genre of comic drama known as Old Comedy and are used to define it, along with fragments from dozens of lost plays by Aristophanes and his contemporaries.
Also known as "The Father of Comedy" and "the Prince of Ancient Comedy", Aristophanes has been said to recreate the life of ancient Athens more convincingly than any other author. His powers of ridicule were feared and acknowledged by influential contemporaries; Plato singled out Aristophanes' play The Clouds as slander that contributed to the trial and subsequent condemning to death of Socrates, although other satirical playwrights had also caricatured the philosopher.
Aristophanes' second play, The Babylonians (now lost), was denounced by Cleon as a slander against the Athenian polis. It is possible that the case was argued in court, but details of the trial are not recorded and Aristophanes caricatured Cleon mercilessly in his subsequent plays, especially The Knights, the first of many plays that he directed himself. "In my opinion," he says through that play's Chorus, "the author-director of comedies has the hardest job of all."

Reviews

[Nikola Novaković · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. Despite the obvious repetitiveness of the plots and characters, there is ample difference between these playwrights, and it's fascinating how many of their jokes are still effective today. Aristophanes' The Birds is especially entertaining and quite shockingly subversive for its time. The introduction to this edition is another gem, a truly insightful piece of writing. Recommended.

[Crystal]

When I read this for and English Lit. class we focused on the play, The Birds, which is just strange. I think main reason that these are still enjoyable today is just the fact that it's funny and comedy is something that as a culture we value.

[freddie · Rating 4 out of 5]

the roman ones were better

[Borislav Germanov · Rating 5 out of 5]

Четох я някъде 2000 г, и то не цялата, но е отлична.

[Hosain Alkhalefah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Classical Comedy, encompassing the great works of Aristophanes, Menander, Plautus, and Terence, remains one of the most enduring and influential literary traditions in Western literature. These plays, though rooted in the social and political life of ancient Athens and Rome, continue to resonate for their wit, theatricality, and sharp-eyed commentary on human behavior.

In Aristophanes—the boldest voice of Old Comedy—we find a fearless satirist unafraid to lampoon war, politicians, philosophers, and even the gods. His plays (Lysistrata, The Clouds, The Frogs) explode with irreverent humor, bawdy wordplay, and surreal invention. Yet beneath the comic chaos lies biting critique: of imperialism, societal hypocrisy, and cultural decline. His humor is often outrageous, but never without purpose.

Menander, who represents New Comedy in the Greek tradition, offers a contrasting vision: subtler, more domestic, and psychologically astute. Though much of his work survives only in fragments, what remains (Dyskolos, for example) reveals a dramatist who understood the everyday absurdities of love, money, and mistaken identity. His influence would ripple into Roman comedy and even the works of Molière and Shakespeare.

The Roman playwrights Plautus and Terence adapted Greek comedies into Latin, imbuing them with Roman flavor while refining their structure. Plautus, with his energetic farces (The Menaechmi, Pseudolus), leans heavily into slapstick, deception, and comic servants—a formula that would define Western stage comedy for centuries. Terence, by contrast, adopts a more elegant and refined style, emphasizing moral dilemmas and character-driven narratives, often drawing praise for his graceful Latin and psychological depth.

What makes Classical Comedy so vital is its astonishing versatility. These plays could be broad and lowbrow one moment, philosophical and profound the next. They mocked the gods while exploring human folly, turning everyday conflicts into sources of communal laughter and reflection.

For modern readers, these works offer more than antiquarian interest. They are foundational texts that shaped the comic traditions of Renaissance drama, modern sitcoms, and literary satire. They demonstrate that laughter—whether sparked by political farce, romantic confusion, or the timeless misadventures of clever slaves and pompous fools—is a universal and enduring force.

A timeless window into ancient humor, satire, and theatrical brilliance. Classical Comedy is not only a literary legacy—it is a reminder that laughter, when wielded with intelligence and daring, is one of humanity’s most enduring gifts.

[Dave · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read the Roman parts; not bad but Aristophanes is funnier.