Abstract
David C. Mirhady
Department of Humanities
Simon Fraser University
Domestic and Democratic Dikasteria in Aristophanes' Wasps
Recent papers by Konstan and Olson have debated the democratic orientation taken by Aristophanes in the Wasps. Konstan has argued that Aristophanes is advocating withdrawal from the democratic courts in favour of the aristocratic household. Olson responds that Aristophanes is actually advocating only a conservative democratic ideology. As attractive as Olson's argument is, it leaves open the question of Aristophanes' view of the courts. Does he advocate retiring from them? This paper will argue that he does not. In particular, the directions Bdelycleon gives his father in the court set up within their home suggest only a fidelity to the dicastic oath, according to which the dicasts had to give equal attention to the arguments of the defendant as well as those of the prosecutor.
Return to CACW 2006 "Household and Society in the Ancient World" Program