Greek comedy dramatist. Of his 11 extant plays (of a total of over 40), the early comedies are remarkable for the violent satire with which he ridiculed the democratic war leaders. He also satirized contemporary issues such as the new learning of Socrates in
The Clouds (423
BC) and the obsession with war, with the sex-strike of women in
Lysistrata (411
BC). The chorus plays a prominent role, frequently giving the play its title, as in
The Wasps (422
BC),
The Birds (414
BC), and
The Frogs (405
BC).
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