When authors refer to other great works, people, and events, it’s usually not accidental. Put on your super-sleuth hat and figure out why.
Literary and Philosophical References
- Aeschylus, Seven Against Thebes (187-189)
- Euripides (283, 368-369), Andromache (155-156)
- Homer, Iliad (520)
- Aesop, Fable 3 (695)
Historical References
- King Cleomenes of Sparta's occupation of the Acropolis (273/4-280)
- The Battle of Marathon (285)
- The Athenian fleet at Samos (313)
- The Spartan-Athenian Peace Treaty of 421, and later modifications to it (513-514)
- The expulsion of Hippias, the Athenian tyrant (618/9, 665, 1149-1156)
- Harmodius and Aristogiton (633)
- Artemisia, Queen of Halicarnassus (675)
- The earthquake of 464 BCE and Messenian Revolt (1138-1146)
- Destruction of the Athenian herms (1074)
- The Battle of Artemisium (1251-1253)
- The Battle of Thermopylae, a.k.a. the last stand of the Spartan 300 (1254-1261)
Pop Culture References
(The pop culture references in Lysistrata refer to the pop culture of 5th-century BCE Athens.)
- Eels from Boeotia, a popular delicacy (35-36)
- Milesian dildos, a hot commodity in Athens (108-110)
- Lycon's notorious wife (270)
- Bupalus the crummy sculptor (361)
- Worship of Sabazios and Adonis, popular among women and slaves (387-398)
- Timon of Athens, the misanthrope (808/9)
- Nasty perfume from Rhodes (944)
- Philostratus, a.k.a. "Fox Dog" (Kunalopex), famous Athenian pimp (957)