Lysistrata | Part Summaries

Timeline of Events

• Early morning, 411 BCE

  Lysistrata enlists women from all over Greece to deny their husbands sex until they end the war.

  Prologos
• At the same time

  The old women of Athens, on Lysistrata's orders, take over the Acropolis and its war chest.

  Prologos
• Later that morning

  The Chorus of Old Men try to take back the Acropolis, but the Chorus of Old Women stops them.

  Parodos
• A little later

  Magistrate comes to withdraw funds from the war chest, debates Lysistrata, and leaves defeated.

  Agon
• Immediately after

  Chorus of Old Men strip themselves naked in ferocious confrontation with Old Women, who do the same.

  Parabasis
• Five days later

  Lysistrata scolds weak-willed women who try to break the sex strike and persuades them to hang on.

  Episode 1
• A little later

  Cinesias tries to sleep with his wife, Myrrhine; she leaves him unsatisfied.

  Episode 2
• Immediately after

  After running into a Spartan Herald sent to arrange peace talks, Cinesias agrees to do his part.

  Episode 2
• A little later

  The Chorus of Old Men reconcile with the Chorus of Old Women, who help them dress.

  Stasimon 2
• Days later

  Lysistrata engages Athens and Sparta in peace talks and rewards their success with a feast.

  Episode 3
• After the feast

  The Athenian and Spartan delegates sing and dance with their wives in the gods' honor.

  Exodos

Part Summaries Chart