Ἐκκλησιάζουσαι
Assemblywomen
Aristophanes · first staged c. 392 BC · festival and result unknown
The women of Athens, disguised as men, pack the assembly and vote themselves the government. Their new law makes property and sex common to all.
Persons, in order of appearance
- Πρ.Praxagora
- Γυ. ΑFirst Woman
- Γυ. ΒSecond Woman
- Χο.Chorus
- Βλ.Blepyrus
- Αν.Neighbour
- Χρ.Chremes
- Κη.Herald
- Γρ. ΑFirst Old Woman
- Νεισ.Girl
- Νεασ.Young Man
- Γρ. ΒSecond Old Woman
- Γρ. ΓThird Old Woman
- Θε.Maid
Translations
- The Eleven Comediesprose · 1912 · aligned by speech · with Ussher's Greek
- W. J. Hickieprose · 1853 · aligned by speech · with Ussher's Greek
- B. B. Rogersverse · 1924 · aligned by speech · with Ussher's Greek
Greek texts
- Ussher, Aristophanes: Ecclesiazusae1973
- F. W. Hall and W. M. Geldart, Aristophanis Comoediae, vol. 21907
Cite as Ar. Eccl. 1–1183
Full synopsis (tells the ending)
Before dawn the women of Athens gather in their husbands' cloaks and false beards, having practised speaking in the assembly. Praxagora leads them. They pack the meeting and vote the government over to the women. Her programme: all property in common, all sex in common, with the old and ugly served first. One citizen hands in his goods; another waits to see. A young man on his way to his girl is claimed by three old women in turn, under the new law. Everyone goes off to the communal dinner.
Drawing: Line drawing after the 1884 plate of the Caputi vase (Heydemann, Hallisches Winckelmannsprogramm 9); retraced.