Stolen Cloaks in Aristophanes' Ecclesiazusae

Abstract

I argue that the cloaks that the women steal from their husbands in Aristophanes' Ecclesiazusae have thematic resonances that extend well beyond their use as part of the women's transvestite disguise. The filching of the cloaks is portrayed as lvpodusia ("mugging") by Blepyrus at lines 535–38. Once he makes this association, the cloaks come to signify not only gender reversal but also the oikos-polis dialectic and socioeconomic issues that are at the play's core. Praxagora capitalizes on these associations as she presents her agenda to Blepyrus. The stolen cloaks thus link the cross-dressing and economic aspects of the play.

ταυτ' εγω μαρτυρομαι: Bystanders as Witnesses in Aristophanes

“…Hansen 1976, Carawan 1984, Hunter 1994. For λωποδυσία in comedy, see Compton-Eagle 2005. iii. Clouds 1222: Cr(editor) 1 13) goes to Str.…”