The Notion of War in the Eyes of Thucydides, Homer and Aristophanes

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Greek classical literature is considered to be the canon of literary writing that pertains to the ancient history of Greece. Greek literature displays the classic lifestyle, culture and beliefs of the Greek race during the early portions of mainstream ancient and classical European history. Prominent Greek writers such as Thucydides, Homer, and Aristophanes produced pieces that are regarded, up to this day, as af conveyer of Greek life in the context of classical Europe. Looking deeper into their respective works, Thucydides’ History of the Peloponnesian War, Homer’s Iliad and Aristophanes’ Lysistrata all show a common theme in ancient Greek life –life in the context of war.

This paper will conduct textual analysis of each classic piece. The argument is that the concept of war functions as the prime mover of Thucydides’ History of the Peloponnesian War, Homer’s Iliad and Aristophanes’ Lysistrata. This study defines the concept of “prime mover” as the major plot of each literary work. With this, it will study the account of Thucydides as a participant and recorder of the Peloponnesian War. I will then compare the Peloponnesian narrative with the epic events of the Trojan War in Homer’s Iliad. Lastly, i will show the parallels of the developments in the Peloponnesian War with the Lysistrata and its author’s arguments of the female intervention in warfare with concern to the Iliad’s claim of man’s monopoly in war.

With concern to ancient Greek literature, Thucydides’ History of the Peloponnesian War is considered a relevant reference to the historical developments in Greece during those turbulent times. Thucydides, for one, is considered by many historians as a primary and earlier contributor in the developments of historiography...

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...ch literary piece. More importantly, the notion of war is taken into different views. Thucydides saw it as the venue for proper historiographical recording of past events and the overall perception of human nature as the source of such conflicts. Homer viewed it as literary venue for the epic tale of heroes, Greek divinities and the struggle of man to overcome the other in the field of warfare. Aristophanes, ultimately, regarded it as the venue for feminine intervention and the role of femininity in neutralizing the harmful and destructive side of man.

Works Cited

Aristophanes (trans. Jeffrey Henderson). Lysistrata. London: Oxford University Press, 1990.

Print.

Homer (trans. by Richmond Lattimore). The Iliad. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1951.

Print.

Thucydides (trans. by R. Warner). The History of the Peloponnesian War. New York: Penguin, 1972. Print.

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