CLEONE CONTRO ARISTOFANE: ANCORA SULLE RAGIONI DELL’ATTACCO DOPO I BABILONESI

Abstract

The reason for the demagogue Cleon’s pressing charges against Aristophanes
was not the latter’s criticism of Athenian imperialism in the comedy Babylonians staged in
426 a.C. From Diceopoli’s speech (Aristoph. Ach. 520-516), the Chorus (Aristoph. Ach. 630;
659-664) and fragment 67 K. - A. it can be gleaned that there were two accusations by Cleon
against Aristophanes: his slandering of the Athenian State and leading Athenian politicians,
and his criticism of the Ecclesia, the Athenian Popular Assembly.