Books by Aristophanes
“It is a comedy and quite vulgar, which I love.” Read more...
The best books on Learning Ancient Greek
Paul McMullen, Classicist
“If you read The Clouds and the Apology side by side you get a snapshot of Athens at the end of the Fifth Century” Read more...
M M McCabe, Philosopher
The Birds
by Aristophanes
Aristophanes, the Greek comic playwright, wrote this play in the middle of the great war that was then going on between Athens and Sparta, and it’s about how the birds occupied a middle kingdom between earth and heaven and negotiated deals between the two realms. The birds are being used in an allegorical way and it’s not only a very amusing story, it’s the first example of how birds can become symbols for us.
Interviews where books by Aristophanes were recommended
The best books on Birdwatching, recommended by Jeremy Mynott
What drives people’s passion for birds and birdwatching? For Jeremy Mynott, it’s as much about us as it is about them. He recommends the best books on birds and birdwatching.
The best books on Socrates, recommended by M M McCabe
The classical Greek philosopher is credited with laying the foundation of Western philosophy – without ever having written a word. Here, the eminent scholar M M McCabe recommends the best books to read to understand Socrates and engage with the eternal question: How best to live?
The best books on Learning Ancient Greek, recommended by Paul McMullen
Interested in philosophy? Drama? History? Within a year you too could be reading seminal texts in their original language. Academic Paul McMullen recommends the best books for learning ancient Greek.
