Thracian themes in the comedies of Aristophanes

Abstract

The author presented the way Thrace and Thracians were depicted in the comedies of Aristophanes and the importance of these representations for learning about Greek ideas about their northern neighbors. The aim of the article is to determine what information about Thrace can be extracted from the works of the most outstanding representative of Old Attic comedy and to what extent they reflect historical reality. The author used a philological and historical method. She analysed preserved comedies and fragments of lost works, comparing them with the messages of ancient authors and the findings of modern researchers. Particular attention was paid to presenting Thrace as the "land of the north", associated with a harsh climate, snow and inaccessible mountains. Information about the territorial scope of the region and the importance of the Hebros and Istros rivers was discussed. The author showed that in the works described there are numerous references to Thracian rulers, warriors, slaves, religious cults and myths related to Orpheus and Dionysus. These mentions are episodic in nature, but they create a coherent image of the Thracians as a brave, warlike and exotic people. Despite the literary convention and the presence of comic elements, Aristophanes' works are a valuable source for research on Greek geographical, political and cultural awareness.