Aristophanes was a "craft" comedy poet in the fourth century B.C.
             during the time of the Peloponnesian War. Aristophanes' usual style was
             to be too satirical, and suggesting the outlandish. He shows little
             mercy when mocking Socrates and his "new-fangled ideas" which were most
             likely designed to destroy the cohesiveness of society and lead to
             The most absurd and humorous of Aristophanes' comedies are those in
             which the main characters, the heroes of the story, are women. Smart
             One of the most famous of Aristophanes' comedies depicting powerfully
             effectual women is the Lysistrata, named after the female lead character
             of the play. It portrays Athenian Lysistrata and the women of Athens
             teaming up with the women of Sparta to force their husbands to end the
             To make the men agree to a peace treaty, the women seized the
             Acropolis, where Athens' financial reserves are kept, and prevented the
             men from squandering them further on the war. They then beat back an
             attack on their position by the old men who have remained in Athens
             while the younger men are out on campaign. When their husbands return
             from battle, the women refuse to have sex with them. This sex strike,
             which is portrayed in a series of (badly) exaggerated and blatant sexual
             innuendoes, finally convinces the men of Athens and Sparta to agree to a
             The Lysistrata shows women acting bravely and even aggressively against
             men who seem resolved on ruining the city-state by prolonging a
             pointless war and excessively expending reserves stored in the
             Acropolis. This in turn added to the destruction of their family life
             by staying away from home for long stretches while on military
             campaign. The men would come home when they could, sexually relieve
             themselves, and then leave again to continue a senseless war.
             The women challenge the masculine role model to preserve...