Lysistrata, loosely translated to "she who disbands armies", is an anti-war Greek comedy, written in 411 BCE by Aristophanes. Led by the eponymous Lysistrata, the story's female characters barricade the public funds building and withhold sex from their husbands to end the Peloponnesian War and secure peace.
As with all Greek comedies, the actors portraying male characters wore phalluses, but since audiences of the day were accustomed to this convention, there would be no shock-humour as might be experienced by the modern audiences of today.
from wiki:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lysistrata To see the phalli in action - is that pural for phallus... phalluses? - see this clip of the scene:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFTtYrcqw9w
6 Comments
gwaansays...Lysistrata is one of my favourite plays - hell, anything by Aristophanes is great!
scottishmartialartssays...Yep, Phalli is correct. Phallus is a Latin 2nd declension masculine noun, so the nominative plural ending would be a long -i. Isn't Latin grammar fun?
Also, it's the Parthenon that the Athenian women barricade themselves in. The treasury of the Delian League had been transferred there in 454.
Ah, the joys of a classical education.
Deanosays...Wow, post of the week I think!
lisacatsays...I wish I'd had some latin. Wonder if there's a "Latin For Dummies" book?
c'mon, one more vote for the phallus! Boobie sifts zoom to the top while the Penis hangs limply in the queue...
youdiejoesays...Who knew there were Theater Geeks here on the sift! Great vid!
Deanosays...The theater/theatre geeks are at www.bravo.videosift.com!
Discuss...
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