The Acharnians
Aristophanes425 BCE
Aristophanes wrote the first great anti-war comedy — a farmer who makes a private peace treaty with Sparta while Athens keeps fighting.
comedyAncient Greekmoderateshort · ~1.5h
Influence
4.0/10
Popularity
2.5/10
“Open up, open up! I need some rags from your old plays — the really pathetic ones.”
Why It Matters
Aristophanes wrote the first great anti-war comedy — a farmer who makes a private peace treaty with Sparta while Athens keeps fighting. It established the template for comedy as political protest and proved that humor could be a serious weapon against wartime propaganda. The play won first prize at the Lenaia festival in 425 BC.
The 
Take
Personal reviewHis first play, very funny to see how hard he pushes for peace and how comedians fighting against the politicians. Hilarious display of the peace for just that one guy