Acharnians is the earliest extant play of Aristophanes, and the first full example of the Old Comedy subgenre to have survived. This subgenre, distinct from later Middle and New Comedy, flourished in the late 5th century BCE and tended to be highly topical, containing colourful personal attacks on named individuals, including politicians and other poets. Acharnians was performed at the Lenaea festival of 425 BCE, where it won the first prize in the play competition. It was produced by Callistratus, an associate of the poet who had produced plays on Aristophanes’ behalf previously (Banqueters 427 BCE, Babylonians 426 BCE) and would go on to produce two more (Birds 414 BCE, Lysistrata 411 BCE). The plot of the play, in which Dicaeopolis’ private peace treaty allows him to

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Citation: Hunt, Holly. "Acharnians". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 24 April 2025 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=13337, accessed 28 April 2025.]