The Symposium and Komos in AristophanesAris & Phillips, 2007 - 243 pages Feasting, wine, revellers and dancing girls; the modern image of ancient Greek symposia is an enduring one. Many symposia were more formal affairs; drinking-parties after which a komos, or procession of revellers often took place, with much protocol involved. Many accounts survive in ancient literature, as well as depictions on vase paintings. There has been a considerable amount of modern research on the symposium, especially on its archaeological evidence. However, the komos has not received as much attention, and the connection of either celebration with comedy has not been studied to any great extent. This book looks at the symposium and komos in Aristophanes and the comic fragments from two angles, considering the use of these forms to celebration to help shape a play's plot or to depict characters, and discussing the information found in comedy on some practical sympotic matters. The context of relevant scenes, the activities shown, their humour, and the social status of their characters are also explored. This second edition has been revised to take account of new research. All the Greek and Latin is translated or paraphrased to make the book more accessible for students of Aristophanes who do not read these languages. |
Contents
The Komos in Aristophanes | 140 |
Conclusion | 151 |
Bibliography | 225 |
Copyright | |
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Common terms and phrases
Acharnians actually ad loc Aeschylus already appears Aristophanes asks aspects associated Athenian audience becomes beginning behaviour birds Bowie called carrying celebration character chorus comedy comic communal compared connection context contrast dancing depicted described Dicaeopolis dinner Dionysus drinking drunk effect employed especially event examples explains expression fact feasting festival finally fragment frequently Furthermore gives Greek guests hand imagery important indicates interpretation joke kind komastic komoi komos kottabos Lamachus later luxury meaning mentioned mixed notes obvious particular party passage peace perfume person Philocleon play pleasures possible practice preparation present probably procession provides reading reason refer reminds riddle says scene seems serves shown similar singing situation slave Sommerstein songs sorts speaker speaks suggests symposia symposium sympotic underlined usually victory Wealth wine women writes young