Lysistrata ( or ; Attic Greek: Λυσιστράτη, Lysistrátē, lit. 'army disbander') is an ancient Greek comedy by Aristophanes, first staged in early 411 BCE at Lenaea festival in classical Athens. The play is a comic account of a woman's – Lysistrata's – mission to end the Peloponnesian War between Greek city states by denying sex from all the men of warring parties and occupying the Acropolis of Athens. Lysistrata persuades the women of the warring cities to engage in a sex strike as a means of forcing the men to negotiate peace – a strategy that inflames the battle between the sexes. The play's structure represents a shift from the conventions of Old Comedy, a trend typical of the author's career.
Adaptations (2)
Lysistrata has been adapted into 2 films, from 1955 to 2015. The most recent is Chiraq (2015).
The Second Greatest Sex1955 · film · 87 min · dir. George Marshall · IMDb ↗IMDb5.3In 1880, Osawkie, Kansas is feuding with rival town Mandaroon over which will be county seat, keeping the town's men away from home most of the time. The last straw is when Matt Davis feels compelled to go on a new foray on his wedding night; his bride Liza (just call her Lysistrata) takes teacher Cassie's advice and organizes a marital strike to make the men-folk stop their nonsense.
Chiraq2015 · film · 127 min · dir. Spike Lee · IMDb ↗A modern day adaptation of the ancient Greek play Lysistrata by Aristophanes, set against the backdrop of gang violence in Chicago.
