THE ASSEMBLY OF WOMEN
(Ecclesiazusae)
Aristophanes
Translated with an introduction by Robert Mayhew
The women of Athens concoct a daring scheme: penetrate the male-dominated Assembly
disguised as men and vote themselves into power, after which they will overturn the old laws and
inaugurate a new society where all are equal and where property-sex, too!-is shared. This new
translation of Aristophanes' last extant play recaptures the spirit, the bawdiness, and the brilliance
of this rollicking farce, which is at the same time a profound critique of contemporary Greek
customs and manners.
ROBERT MAYHEW teaches philosophy at Seton Hall University and has had numerous articles
published in scholarly journals.
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