Ancient Greek Theatre: Peace (Pax)

Aka Pax (Greek: Εἰρήνη Eirēnē)

First performed at the Dionysia in 421 BC. Aristophanes won 2nd prize in the competition with this play.
Aristophanes' Peace is a hilarious play. It strikes at the Peloponnesian War using a fantasy plot.
Dramatis Personae

Chori:
1. Farmers from Attica.
2. A secondary Chorus of citizens from various Greek states

Speaking Parts:

Trygaeus, a farmer
Two Slaves of Trygaeus
Daughter of Trygaeus
Hermes, caretaker of heaven
Ares, the god of war
Havoc, slave to the god of War
Hierocles an oracle monger
Sickle-maker
Arms salesman
Son of Lamachus
Son of Cleonymus

Mute Roles: Children of Trygaeus Eirene, The goddess of Peace Opora (Harvest) a companion of Peace Festival a companion of Peace jar-maker spear-polisher helmet-maker slaves, citizens etc.

Skene and Setting: Trygaeus' farmhouse, later the palace of the gods in the sky.
Plot:

Fed-up farmer: Trygaeus, a man, yearns for peace and conceives a daring plan.

Beetle chariot: He harnesses a giant dung beetle called Hercules (a symbol of peace and rebirth) and flies to the heavens on its back. He finds it empty of the gods. There he understands from Hermes, as messenger of the gods that they have vacated the heavens.

Missing Peace: There, he discovers that the Gods have abandoned their posts frustrated by the war. Worse, the principal warmonger, the god of War, Ares, has imprisoned the goddess of Peace, Eirine, in a pit.

Rescue mission: Together with the help of the Chorus of fellow Attic farmers, Trygaeus digs Peace out of the pit and brings her back down to Earth.

Peace party: The play erupts in celebration. Farmers rejoice at the prospect of being able to return to their lands, while the war profiteers are mocked.

A happy sort of ending: Trygaeus is rewarded by being married to Opora (Harvest), a symbol of fertility and prosperity.

Peace is a bittersweet comedy. Whilst celebrating the end to hostilities, it also acknowledges the lost lives and opportunities of war. The play ends on a hopeful note, yet with a tinge of caution – a reminder that Peace is fragile.

References

Peace (play) - Wikipedia