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Aristophanes · c. 446-386 BC

The Wasps

Σφῆκες
Ancient Sources / Aristophanes / The Wasps

Read our guide to The Wasps. The Wasps was produced at the Lenaea of 422 BC and won the second prize. Philocleon, an old Athenian addicted to sitting on juries, is locked in his house by his son Bdelycleon, who tries to cure him by turning the household into a law-court, and the chorus of old jurors, dressed as wasps, come to rescue him. The sections follow the play's dramatic units and keep the standard line numbers of the Greek text.

Read from the start
Text
Greek original with English translation, 15 passages, about 14900 words in English.
Translator
Benjamin Bickley Rogers (1924)
Edition
Greek text: F. W. Hall and W. M. Geldart (eds.), Aristophanis Comoediae, Oxford Classical Texts, Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1906-1907, as digitised by Perseus. English: Benjamin Bickley Rogers, Aristophanes, vol. I, Loeb Classical Library, London: William Heinemann, and New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1924
Cite as
Aristophanes, The Wasps 1 (by line number)

Contents · 15 passages

  1. 1–135Prologue: the slaves guard the house1134 words
  2. 136–229Prologue: Philocleon tries to get out835 words
  3. 230–315Parodos: the chorus of wasps arrives938 words
  4. 316–394Episode: Philocleon at the window891 words
  5. 395–470Episode: the wasps attack759 words
  6. 471–547Episode: terms of the debate780 words
  7. 548–649Agon: Philocleon praises the juror's life1478 words
  8. 650–759Agon: Bdelycleon's reply1409 words
  9. 760–890aEpisode: a court at home1182 words
  10. 891–1008bEpisode: the trial of the dog Labes1056 words
  11. 1009–1121Parabasis: the chorus speak for the poet and the wasps1052 words
  12. 1122–1264Episode: Philocleon is dressed for dinner1186 words
  13. 1265–1325Choral song and Xanthias's report526 words
  14. 1326–1449Episode: Philocleon's drunken return1052 words
  15. 1450–1537Exodos: Philocleon dances against the tragedians622 words

More by Aristophanes

English translation by Benjamin Bickley Rogers (1924). Original text: Greek text: F. W. Hall and W. M. Geldart (eds.), Aristophanis Comoediae, Oxford Classical Texts, Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1906-1907, as digitised by Perseus. English: Benjamin Bickley Rogers, Aristophanes, vol. I, Loeb Classical Library, London: William Heinemann, and New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1924.

Greek text and translation from the Perseus Digital Library, Tufts University, Greek: CC BY-SA 4.0 (Perseus Digital Library); translation public domain (Rogers). Introductions, summaries and notes © GreekMythology.com.