2020 IB Extended Essays

Athenian art did not always portray an accurate depiction of female’s political position in society.

Much like Antigone the play Lysistrata, written by Aristophanes, demonstrates women actively protesting the dominant domestic patriarchal views men had in Athenian society. The play also portrays another form of Athenian art that misrepresents females political position in society whilst still adding slight references to reality. The ideologies from the philosophers, Aristophanes and Aristotle, both relay a reason behind the meaning of the play and the significance of female’s sexual privileges. The play tells a story about men’s decision to under war despite being warned by Lysistrata that they will be defeated. Nevertheless, due to the dominant patriarchal idea that women are not fit to rule and are incapable of basic ideas, they push Lysistrata words of wisdom and tell her that she must not intervene in the political polis or political arena. Thus, driving her to withdraw and starve men from her sexual privileges, along with the rest of the city’s and change the course of war herself. Lysistrata states that “What’s the use of crowbars? It’s not crowbars we need, it’s intelligence and common sense” (line 157, Lysistrata) exemplifying men’s need to reason instead of going head on into war. Therefore, through her resourcefulness and acknowledgement of her political position within society she “chastises her fellow women for their tardiness” (Donald L. Wasson, 2018) to sexually starve men and change the course of war herself. Lysistrata’s withdrawal of her sexual privileges demonstrates that in the face of adversity – women were successful but positioned that their only opportunity was through their sexual roles. She was seen among women as a powerful woman and figure in society, who knew of her privileges and used her knowledge of them to benefit the city. However, the act of her stepping outside the Okios and into the male domain is what is inaccurately portrayed in the play. Women in reality were not allowed outside the Okios without a male escort and were certainly not allowed to have a political voice or be included in any political decision or thought. There, Athenian art is partially accurate, as it represents women’s political position within society. Yet, even though Lysistrata may have sexually starved men,