Aristophanes, (ca. 456 BC – ca. 386 BC), was a Greek Old Comic dramatist. He is known asthe Father of Comedy. Although there were other comic writers in ancient Greece, only the works of Aristophanes remain. By most accounts, he was the greatest comic writer of his day. Of the estimated forty or so plays thought to have written by him, eleven remain. In addition to writing plays, Aristophanes also wrote poetry.
Many of Aristophanes' plays were written for the theatrical competitions at the festival of Dionysus. Their satirical tone and often ribald humor was directed at politicians and cultural heroes alike. Clouds poked fun at the popular Socrates and Frogs at involved a contest between fellow playwrights Euripides and Aeschylus. Largely, however, his plays captured the debauchery, war and corruption of the politics of the day.
Aristophanes had an excellent education and was well versed in literature, especially the poetry of Homer and other great Athenian writers. He died in 385 B.C. in Athens.
