Lysistrate has never been the subject of a thoroughgoing critical essay. The commentaries, while they have succeeded in establishing a relatively sound text, do not always offer the kind of interpretive enlightenment that readers require, especially in regard to Aristophanes' management of a complex plot and his development of its themes. Wilamowitz, the most recent commentator (Berlin, 1927), goes the farthest in presenting the play as a work of theater and of literature. One wishes, however, that his commentary were much fuller than it is. Pending the appearance of a badly needed new text and commentary I offer the following observations. First, the theater: what sort of arrangements must have been available to Aristophanes for the production of this play? Then an interpretive summary of the action, focusing on difficulties about which there is still room for argument. I shall use the text of V. Coulon (Paris, 1928), supplementing and correcting it with regard to transmission and previous scholarship when necessary.

Lysistrate was produced at the Lenaia of 411 (early February). Alan Sommerstein has recently reevaluated the evidence (JHS 97 (1977) 112ff.) and I refer the reader to his discussion; differences on points of detail will be apparent in what follows. The play best fits a time shortly after the ‘first assembly’ of Peisander (Th. 8. 53f.) and I ask that the reader bear this in mind.