20/2/07 - Classical Literature - Aristophanes: The Frogs (2)

Chronology of events:

431-404 BC: Athens v Sparta in the Peloponnesian War
413: Sicilian expedition; Athenian fleet wiped out
411: Thesmophoriazusae; coup; democracy established
406: Special effort (hardship for Athens) in battle of Arginusae; enfranchised all slaves willing to fight. Led to great victory although it only held off the inevitable. Loss of men and ships. Prosecuted generals who did not rescue Athenians. Athens was running out of money while Sparta got money from Persia to build a fleet. Athens then ran out of money, including their emergency supply and soused copper plated silver. Elite were exiled and left.
404: Second coup

Aeschylus died in 456 BC. Euripides was exiled because of alleged sympathy to upper classes, and died in 406 BC. Sophocles also died in 406 BC.

Sophocles is not considered in Dionysus' search for the greatest poet to save the Athenians. One of the poets had to be got rid of because an agon can only be constructed between two characters, and those with opposing arguments. As Aeschylus and Euripides have the most diverse arguments, they were chosen for the parts. They each had strong artistic values, while Sophocles believed in art within art. How much of Aeschylus did Aristophanes' audience know? The plays were only staged once. The most probable answer is that people learned lines from the plays in school and in general culture.