Aka (Greek: Θεσμοφοριάζουσαι; Thesmophoriazousai, meaning Women Celebrating the Festival of the Thesmophoria), or Women at the Thesmophoria (sometimes also called The Poet and the Women).
First performed 411 BC, probably at the Dionysia.
The Thesmophoria
The Thesmophoria was a three-day festival of the agricultural year. It was celebrated by the women of Ancient Greece alone every autumn [no men allowed] after the planting of the seeds of corn. It gave them the women the opportunity to leave the confines of their homes and share the company of other women for a few days. The goddesses in whose honour it was celebrated, were Demeter, the mother Earth fair goddess of the golden grain, and her beautiful daughter, Persephone. In their legend, Demeter, the mother, every autumn sees her child being sunk into the ground, into the underworld [Hades]. All winter long in the gloom the mother suffers and is depressed, and in her sorrow mourns for the loss of her beautiful daughter. In spring, as soon as the blades of corn re-appear, she welcomes her daughter, Persephone, resurrected and back into the daylight and upper world, with her mother overjoyed and celebrating the lifting of her gloom and Spring with its fragrance everywhere.
Aristophanes' play Thesmophoriazusae explores also the myth of Gaia and Uranus in three ways: setting, plot, and language. The play's setting is the Thesmophoria, a festival partly in honour of Gaia, the Mother Earth goddess. The play's plot revolves around the women of Athens's plan to overthrow the men who have wronged them, in particular Euripides. The play's language and imagery are full of references to the myth of Uranus and Gaia.
Overall, Thesmophoriazusae is a play that explores the myth of Gaia and Uranus in a complex and nuanced way. The play ultimately offers a powerful message about the power of women.
Portrait of a Priestess: Women and Ritual in Ancient Greece - J. B. Connelly - Google Books
Portrait of a Priestess: Women and Ritual in Ancient Greece: J.B. Connelly - Internet Archive
The Myth of Demeter and Kore
The myth of Demeter and Kore [also known as Persephone] is a Greek myth that explains the changing of seasons. Demeter was the goddess of agriculture and fertility, and Kore was her daughter.
According to the myth, Kore was abducted by Hades, the god of the underworld, whilst she was picking flowers in a meadow. Hades took her down into the underworld and made her his queen. Demeter, devastated by the loss of her daughter, went into deep mourning and refused to let anything grow on the earth.
As a result, famine and drought spread across the land. The other gods and goddesses tried to convince Demeter to end her mourning, but she refused. Finally, Zeus, the king of the gods, intervened and demanded that Hades release Kore.
However, Hades had tricked Kore into eating the seed of a pomegranate. This bound her to the underworld. As a compromise, it was decided that Kore would spend one-third of the year in the underworld with Hades, and the remaining two-thirds with Demeter on earth.
When Kore returned to Demeter, the earth flourished once again, and plants and crops grew abundantly. But when Kore went back to the underworld, Demeter mourned and the earth became barren. This cycle of Kore's presence on earth and in the underworld explained the changing of the seasons.
Festivals of Attica: An Archaeological Commentary - Erika Simon - Google Books
The Thesmophoriazusae - An introduction to the play by Aristophanes
Prolegomena to the Study of Greek Religion by Jane Ellen Harrison - Internet Archive
Comedies of Aristophanes Vol 4: Aristophanes, Introduction to Thesmophoriazusae - Internet Archive
DEMETER - Greek Goddess of Grain & Agriculture (Roman Ceres)
HOMERIC HYMN TO DEMETER
The Name of Demeter Thesmophoros | Allaire Stallsmith - Academia.edu
Greek Religion - Demeter pp159ff: Burkert, Walter - Internet Archive
Eleusis; Archetypal Image of Mother and Daughter: Karl Kerényi - Internet Archive
HADES (Haides) - Greek God of the Dead, King of the Underworld (Roman Pluto)
PERSEPHONE - Greek Goddess of Spring, Queen of the Underworld (Roman Proserpina)
Uranus (mythology) - Wikipedia
Gaia - Wikipedia
The Thesmophoria: Women's Ritual in the Ancient World.
Eleusis; archetypal image of mother and daughter: Kerényi, Karl - Internet Archive
P'NYX AND THESMOPHORION
Crisis on Stage: Tragedy and Comedy in Late Fifth-Century Athens - Google Books
Greece & Rome: New Surveys in the Classics No. 13: Aristophanes : R. G. Ussher - Internet Archive
by Martha Habash
Stehle, E. (2002). The Body and Its Representations in Aristophanes’ Thesmophoriazousai: Where Does the Costume End? The American Journal of Philology, 123(3), 369–406. http://www.jstor.org/stable/1561693
Parodies of Euripides' plays in Thesmophoriazusae
Telephus Lines 466-519 and Lines 689-759
Palamedes Lines 768-784
Helen Lines 855-928
Andromeda Lines 1015-1055
Krater with scene from Aristophanes' Thesmophoriazusae, Apulia, c. 370 BC, H 5692 - Martin von Wagner Museum - Würzburg, Germany - DSC05863 - Telephus - Wikipedia
The Skene represents initially the entrance to Agathon's house; later on, it is the forecourt of and entrance to the Thesmophorion (the Sanctuary and temple to Demeter), where the Women of Athens celebrate the Thesmophoria.
Dramatis Personae
Philista - (Mika’s slave)
[All parts played by Men or Boys]
Three-Actor Assignment
In some translations of this play Critylla plays the part of the Chorus Leader and leads the Chorus into the orchestra in the Parodos. In this role she plays the part of the Priestess leading the prayers. This part is sometimes called the Kerykaina. This is the female version of Keryx
κῆρυξ - Wiktionary
κῆρυξ - Βικιλεξικό
THE HERMETIC TABLET p.76 - 2018 - Google Books
Prologue, Lines 1-294.
(The Hesiodic cosmogony, and the separation of earth and sky)
The Oxford Classical Dictionary: Boulé - Internet Archive
[Interpreting the Athenian Thesmophoria by Allaire Stallsmith - Academia.edu]
(Agathon has been wheeled out on the ekkyklema singing his verses)
But bear yourself, what is yours, as a private affair.
It is not right to expect someone else to bear your misfortunes. You should endure your own by yourself.
In-Law: And just like you, in fact, you pretty-boy, you have a rather wide backside, which you do not use for speaking, rather for enduring [like a woman].
Euripides: But what is it that you fear to go there?
Agathon: That I might perish in a worse manner than you.
Euripides: How?
Agathon: How? Because I might seemingly be seen to steal away the nightly favours of the women and by observing them in stealth I might rob these women of their Aphrodisical experience.
In-Law: "Rob" he says. By Zeus, he really means "be ravished by". But his excuse is reasonable.
Euripides (to Agathon): Well then, will you do this for me?
Agathon: Don't even think of it!
Euripides: Woe is me! Thrice unlucky! Euripides is undone!
In-Law: My dearest relation, do not despair, and abandon yourself.
Euripides: What therefore should I do?
In-Law: Let this go off and have a long cry, and take and use me in whatever way you please.
Euripides: Well then, as you have given yourself up to me, take your cloak off.
In-Law: Well, it's now on the ground. But what are you going to do to me?
Euripides (pointing at In-Law's beard): Shave these clean. (Pointing at In-Law's backside and private parts) Singe all these parts down here clear of hair.
In-Law: Well then! Do whatever you see fit or I should never have given myself up to you.
Euripide (looking amongst the items on the Ekkyklema): Agathon, do you have a razor handy? Please lend it to me.
Agathon: Pick it up yourself!
Euripides (to Agathon): You are very kind. (to In-Law) puff your right cheek out.
[Euripides tries clumsily to shave In-Law]
In-Law: Owww!!
Euripides (to In-Law): Why are you bawling? I'll put a gag in your mouth if you don't shut up.
[Euripides continues his amateur beard shaving of In-Law]
In-Law: Ouch! Ouch!
[In-Law gets up and starts to runs off].
Euripides: Hello you! Where are you running off to?
In-Law: To the temple of the Three Furies, for, by Demeter, I am not going to stay here any longer to be carved up by you.
Euripides: Won't you seem to look ridiculous only having half your face shaved?
In-Law: I don't care!
Euripides: What? Are you going to abandon me? Come right here!
In-Law: O miserable me!
Euripides: Keep still and lift your head. What? Why are you twisting it around?
[Euripides proceeds to shave off the rest of In-Law's beard]
In-Law (in pain): Mmmmm!
Euripides: What are you mumbling about? Everything has been satisfactorily completed.
In-Law: O misery me! I am now ready to serve in the Ephebes' unit.
In-Law: Then do give me the mirror!
Euripides: Do you see yourself?
In-Law: No, by Zeus, I see Cleisthenes!
[Cleisthenes - a notoriously effeminate homosexual in Ancient Athens, represented in this play as the Athenian 'ambassador' for women, not the famous law-giver.]
Euripides: Now stand up. I am going to singe [your private parts]. Stoop down forwards!
In-Law: O poor me. He's going to turn me into a [roasted] suckling pig.
Euripides: Someone bring me a lit torch or lamp from inside. (It is brought). (To In-Law) Bend over and shield the sensitive bits of your private parts.
[Euripides burns away all of the hair from In-Law's private parts]
In-Law: I am looking after them, by Zeus, Only that you are burning me! O misery, I need water, water! Where are my neighbours? I need all of them before the flames burn away my entire behind.
Euripides: You will have no need of them or any further trouble for the most part the job is finished.
In-Law: O, by the gods, there is a dreadful stench of burning Look at this blackening. I am all burnt up about my rump.
Euripides: Don't worry. We'll wipe you down with a sponge.
In-Law: Anyone who tries to douse my behind will live to regret it.
Euripides (to Agathon): Agathon, since you refused to help me I beg you please lend me a dress and a breastband for this man. Don't say you don't have these.
Agathon: Take them and use them for I won't begrudge you these.
In-Law: What can I take?
Euripides: First take the saffron-coloured robe.
In-Law (upon taking the robe): By Aphrodite, it has the stench of lechery about it.
Euripides: Put it on quickly.
In-Law: Fetch me a breastband.
Euripides: Here you are!
In-Law: Come now, tidy up the dress around my legs.
Euripides: We need a head-dress and headband.
Agathon: No! Better if you put this woman's cap on his head. I wear it at night time.
Euripides: By Zeus, it's just the right thing!
In-Law: Will it fit me?
Euripides: By Zeus, it's perfect! Fetch me an upper garment
Agathon: Take it from the small couch.
Euripides: We now need some shoes.
Agathon: Here, take mine!
In-Law: Will they fit me?
Euripides: Don't you prefer to wear your footwear loose?
Agathon: Do see to it that you you have taken everything you need or want. Someone, please wheel me back into my home as soon as possible.
[Agathon is wheeled back into his home on the ekkyklema]
Euripides (showing off In-Law to the audience): Behold! Once a man, he is now a woman in appearance! (To In-Law) Be sure to speak in a high-pitched voice like a woman. Do it naturally!
In-Law: I'll try to.
Euripides: Go then. [Off to the Thesmophoria with you.]
In-Law: No, by Apollo. Not until you promise me ...
Euripides: What?
In-Law: That you will come and try to rescue me using all your skills and craft, if any misfortune should befall me.
Euripides: All right, I swear by the Aether and the house of Zeus!!!
In-Law: Why not by the lodgings of Hippocrates?
Euripides: All right! I swear then by all of your gods.
In-Law: Remember this. You have sworn an oath in your mind! But your tongue has not sworn, nor will I bind [it] by a formal oath.
[The Skene becomes the Temple of the Demeter. The shouts of women are heard inside.]
Euripides: Hurry! The signal for the commencement of the assembly of the women in the Temple of Demeter has been raised. I am off.
[Exit Euripides]
In-Law: Thratta, follow me to where the ladies are gathering to celebrate the Thesmophoria. Look at all the smoke arising from the torches that light the way are burning. I pray to the two goddesses, the Thesmophoriae, for their favour to protect me on my way into the temple and on my way back out again. Thratta, take the cake out of the basket. I wish to offer it to Demeter and Kore (Persephone). I pray that my daughter will marry a rich and foolish man, and will lack for nothing. Where can I find a place to sit to hear the speeches well. Thratta, it is time for you to leave. Slaves are not allowed to listen to the proceedings at the gathering. Be off with you.
Parodos, 295-380.
In-Law's [Mnesilochus’] disguise as a woman is successful. The women believe he is one of them. After fervently praying to various deities, especially the goddesses, Demeter and Kore, they dive into a passionate discussion about Euripides.
The Chorus Leader serving as the spokesperson of the Women proclaims: "If any man dares to plot against us women or seeks to harm us by proposing peace with Euripides and the Persians, may the gods unleash their wrath upon him and his family! And may the gods bestow their blessings upon you all!"
Proclamation (prose), 295-311.
References
The Thesmophoria: Women's Ritual in the Ancient World
Panhellenic and Athenian Cults and Festivals: Multiple authors - Internet Archive
Festivals of Attica: An Archaeological Commentary - Erika Simon - Google Books
A Guide to Ancient Greek Drama: Synopsis of Aristophanes' Women at the Thesmophoria
Thesmophoriazusae - World History Encyclopaedia
Thesmophoriazusae - Aristophanes - Ancient Greece - Classical Literature
https://www.theatredatabase.com/ancient/aristophanes_010.html
Crowell's handbook of classical drama pp. 327- : Hathorn, Richmond Y. - Internet Archive
Aristophanes: Thesmophoriazusae - Tom's Learning Notes
Dithyramb, Tragedy and Comedy pp. 325-326 by A.W. Pickard-Cambridge - Internet Archive
Analysis of Play: Thesmophoriazusae
Thesmophoriazusae - World History Encyclopedia
Women at the Thesmophoria by Aristophanes - GreekMythology.com
Google Scholar Search = Aristophanes Thesmophoriazusae
JStor Search = Aristophanes Thesmophoriazusae
Core UK Search = Aristophanes+Thesmophoriazusae
Library of Congress Search = Aristophanes+Thesmophoriazusae
Butrica, James. “The Lost ‘Thesmophoriazusae’ of Aristophanes.” Phoenix, vol. 55, no. 1/2, 2001, pp. 44–76. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/1089023
FARAONE, CHRISTOPHER A. “CURSES, CRIME DETECTION AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION AT THE FESTIVAL OF DEMETER THESMOPHOROS.” The Journal of Hellenic Studies, vol. 131, 2011, pp. 25–44. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/41722131.
The Lost "Thesmophoriazusae" of Aristophanes on JSTOR
The oversubtle maxim chasers: Aristophanes, Euripides, and their Reciprocal Pursuit of Poetic Identity - ProQuest
Clements, Ashley. “‘Thesmophoriazusae's’ Two Dawns.” Mnemosyne, vol. 62, no. 4, 2009, pp. 535–547. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/27736377.
Hartwig, Andrew. “Feasting and Flattering the Crows: A Reinterpretation of Aristophanes, ‘Thesmophoriazusae’ 942.” Mnemosyne, vol. 62, no. 1, 2009, pp. 90–93. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/27736297
Tzanetou, Angeliki. “Something to Do with Demeter: Ritual and Performance in Aristophanes' Women at the Thesmophoria.” The American Journal of Philology, vol. 123, no. 3, 2002, pp. 329–367. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/1561692
KARAMANOU, IOANNA. “AS THREATENING AS THE PERSIANS: EURIPIDES IN ARISTOPHANES' ‘THESMOPHORIAZUSAE.’” Bulletin of the Institute of Classical Studies. Supplement, no. 124, 2013, pp. 155–164. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/44216262.
Dane, Joseph A. “Aristophanic Parody: ‘Thesmophoriazusae’ and the Three-Actor Rule.” Theatre Journal, vol. 36, no. 1, Johns Hopkins University Press, 1984, pp. 75–84, https://doi.org/10.2307/3207361.
Yoon, Florence. “The Mirrored Structure of Thesmophoriazusae: Hero, Plot, and Themes.” Phoenix, vol. 73, no. 3/4, 2019, pp. 262–278. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/10.7834/phoenix.73.3-4.0262
The Agathon Scene in Aristophanes' Thesmophoriazusae
Guía, Miriam Valdés, and Anne Stevens. “Women Citizens’ Festivals, Debates and Justice on the Areopagus (Athens, Fifth Century BCE).” Clio. Women, Gender, History, no. 45, 2017, pp. 266–294. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/26610848.
Courtesans & Fishcakes: the consuming passions of classical Athens: Davidson, James N. - Internet Archive
J Given - Symbolae Osloenses, 2007 - Taylor & Francis
Chapter 1. The Comic Chorus in the Thesmophoriazusae of Aristophanes - The Center for Hellenic Studies - Harvard University
SEX AND THE SENSES:
THE POETIC PROCESS IN ARISTOPHANES’ THESMOPHORIAZUSAE
Agathon, Essentialism, and Gender Subversion in Aristophanes' Thesmophoriazusae
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HALL, EDITH Μ.. "THE ARCHER SCENE IN ARISTOPHANES′THESMOPHORIAZUSAE" Philologus, vol. 133, no. 1-2, 1989, pp. 38-54. https://doi.org/10.1524/phil.1989.133.12.38
HANSEN, HARDY. "ARISTOPHANES' THESMOPHORIAZUSAE: THEME, STRUCTURE, AND PRODUCTION" Philologus, vol. 120, no. 1, 1976, pp. 165-185. https://doi.org/10.1524/phil.1976.120.1.165
Stehle, Eva. “The Body and Its Representations in Aristophanes' Thesmophoriazousai: Where Does the Costume End?” The American Journal of Philology, vol. 123, no. 3, 2002, pp. 369–406. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/1561693.
Aphrodite's Tortoise. The Veiled Woman of Ancient Greece (2003) | Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones - Academia.edu
Ashley Clements (24 April 2014). Aristophanes' Thesmophoriazusae: Philosophizing Theatre and the Politics of Perception in Late Fifth-Century Athens. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-1-107-04082-3. doi:10.1017/CBO9781139629386
The Odd Thesmophoria of Aristophanes' Thesmophoriazusae
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ACTOR, AUTHOR AND AUDIENCE IN ARISTOPHANES' ''THESMOPHORIAZUSAE'' - ProQuest
Euripides' Telephus and the Thesmophoriazusae of Aristophanes | Classical Philology: Vol 43, No 3
Vickers, Michael. “Alcibiades on Stage: ‘Thesmophoriazusae and Helen.’” Historia: Zeitschrift Für Alte Geschichte, vol. 38, no. 1, 1989, pp. 41–65. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/4436089.
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The Lost "Thesmophoriazusae" of Aristophanes
James Butrica
Phoenix
Vol. 55, No. 1/2 (Spring - Summer, 2001), pp. 44-76 (33 pages)
Published by: Classical Association of Canada
DOI: 10.2307/1089023
https://www.jstor.org/stable/1089023
JSTOR: Some Search Results for Thesmophoriazusae
Greek Versions
Aristophanis comoediae; recognoverunt brevique adnotatione critica instruxerunt F.W. Hall [et] W.M. Geldart - Internet Archive
Aristophanous Thesmophoriazousai. Acted at Athens in the year B.C. 410. - Internet Archive B.B. Rogers
Aristophanis Thesmophoriazusae edidit J van Leeuwen - Internet Archive
Aristophanis Thesmophoriazusae, recens. A. von Velsen - Aristophanes - Google Books
Aristophanis comoediae; recognoverunt brevique adnotatione critica instruxerunt F.W. Hall [et] W.M. Geldart : Aristophanes Internet Archive
Aristophanes, Thesmophoriazusae - Perseus Library Tufts University
Aristophane Budé Vol IV - Internet Archive
Aristophanous komoidiai Volume 4 part 2. Comedies : Aristophanes Thesmophoriazusae Internet Archive
Aristophanes; Colin Austin; S. Douglas Olson (30 September 2004). Θεσμοφοριάζουσαι. Oxford University Press on Demand. ISBN 978-0-19-926527-5.
Thesmophoriazusae : Aristophanes - Internet Archive
Thesmophoriazusae : Aristophanes - Internet Archive
Aristophanes: Women at the Thesmophoria - Internet Archive Loeb Edition LCL 179
Thesmophoriazusae : Aristophanes - Internet Archive
Aristophanis Thesmophoriazusae
Aristophanous Thesmophoriazousai - Internet Archive
Translations
Thesmophoriazusae - Wikisource
Aristophanes: The Eleven Comedies/Thesmophoriazusae - Wikisource
Thesmophoriazusae - Classics MIT
Frogs and other plays [Wasps, Thesmophoriazusae, Frogs] - Penguin Books
The Frogs and three other plays of Aristophanes translated by W.J. Hickie
Aristophanes III - Birds, Lysistrata, Women at the Thesmophoria translated by Jeffrey Henderson Loeb Edition LCL 179
Aristophanous Thesmophoriazousai : Aristophanes - Internet Archive
Delphi Complete Works Of Aristophanes: Women Celebrating the Thesmophoria
Aristophanes; tr. Alan H. Sommerstein (1994). Thesmophoriazusae. Volume 8 of Comedies of Aristophanes. Aris & Phillips. ISBN 978-0-85668-559-0.
The Wasps ; The Poet and the Women (Thesmophoriazusae); The Frogs [1964]
by Aristophanes; Translated by David Barrett
ISBN 0140441522 9780140441529
https://archive.org/details/waspspoet00aris
The wasps ; The poet and the women ; The frogs : Aristophanes - Internet Archive
Thesmophoriazusae p. 126- Trans by B.B. Rogers Loeb edition
Aristophanes III: The Thesmoporiazusae - Internet Archive
Aristophanes: THESMOPORIAZUSAE—a translation as close to literal as possible by Thomas L Pangle - Academia.edu
Aristophanes: The complete plays Women at Thesmophoria Festival p. 479-: Paul Roche - Internet Archive
Ladies' day; an English version by Aristophanes - Internet Archive tr. by Dudley Fitts
Women at the Festival (Thesmophoriazousae) Θεσμοφοριάζουσαι - Bacchicstage
Audio/Visual
https://youtu.be/AMmnB8n-Wzc?list=PLGhUfakjErKxgi7XJ3xmbhA3P1YAcTA3m
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