Cleisthenes (son of Sibyrtius)

Cleisthenes
Cleisthenes
Κλεισθένης
Pronunciation	/ˈklaɪsθɪniːz/ KLYSSE-thin-eez
Citizenship	Athenian
Occupation	Theoros (delegate)
Era	Classical Greece
Known for	Role during the Peloponnesian War
Notable work	Mentioned in Aristophanes' plays (Acharnians, Knights, The Frogs, The Clouds, Lysistrata, Thesmophoriazusae)
Relatives	Sibyrtius (Athenian) (possibly)

Cleisthenes (/ˈklaɪsθɪniːz/ KLYSSE-thin-eez; Ancient Greek: Κλεισθένης), also Clisthenes or Kleisthenes, was a prominent Athenian delegate (theoros) during the Peloponnesian War (431 BC). The comedian Aristophanes used him frequently as the butt of jokes and as a character in his plays, ridiculing him for being effeminate and/or passive homosexual (kinaidos). He is notably mentioned in The Frogs, The Clouds, Lysistrata, and Thesmophoriazusae.

Notes

^ Aristophanes calls him son of Sibyrtius, the operator of a wrestling school, but the connection is frequently taken to be a joke either at Cleisthenes's expense (playing on the unlikelihood of him engaging in a traditionally masculine sport) or at Sibyrtius's expense (suggesting a sexual encounter with Cleisthenes). (Aristophanes: Acharnians, Knights. Translated by Henderson, Jeffrey. Harvard University Press. 1998. p. 72–73 & n.20. ISBN 0-674-99567-8.) (Aristophanes: Lysistrata, The Acharnians, The Clouds. Translated by Sommerstein, A. Penguin Classics. 1975. p. 240.)

References

Acharnians 118,The Clouds 354,Knights 1374,Thesmophoriazusae, 574.
Ancient Library

[1] Aristophanes calls him son of Sibyrtius, the operator of a wrestling school, but the connection is frequently taken to be a joke either at Cleisthenes's expense (playing on the unlikelihood of him engaging in a traditionally masculine sport) or at Sibyrtius's expense (suggesting a sexual encounter with Cleisthenes). (Aristophanes: Acharnians, Knights. Translated by Henderson, Jeffrey. Harvard University Press. 1998. p. 72–73 & n.20. ISBN 0-674-99567-8.) (Aristophanes: Lysistrata, The Acharnians, The Clouds. Translated by Sommerstein, A. Penguin Classics. 1975. p. 240.)

[note 1]