How we cite our quotes: Line
Quote #7
Lysistrata: "If Eros of the sweet soul and Cyprian Aphrodite imbue our thighs and breasts with desire, and infect the men with sensuous rigidity and bouts of truncheonitis, then I believe all Greece will one day call us Disbanders of Battles." (551-554)
In these lines, Lysistrata shows another way that the women can have power over the men: through their ability to arouse sexual desire. To make sure this plan goes off without a hitch, Lysistrata even prays to the gods (Eros, the god of Desire, and Aphrodite, the goddess of Love) to make the women even sexier than usual, so that the men will be gripped by painful erections.
Quote #8
Men's Leader: "It's shocking, you know, that they're lecturing the citizens now, and running their mouths—mere women!—about brazen shields. And to top it off they're trying to make peace between us and the men of Sparta, who are no more trustworthy than a starving wolf. Actually, this plot they weave against us, gentlemen, aims at tyranny! Well, they'll never tyrannize over me: from now on I'll be on my guard, I'll 'carry my sword in a myrtle branch' and go to market fully armed right up beside Aristogiton. I'll stand beside him like this (posing like Aristogiton's statue): that way I'll be ready to smack this godforsaken old hag right in the jaw!" (advances on the Women's Leader) (626-635)
The Men's Leader here is comparing himself to Aristogiton, a heroic figure from Athenian history. Aristogiton, together with his buddy Harmodius, became famous for killing Hipparchus, the brother of the tyrant Hippias, in 515BCE. This action was seen as a blow struck against tyranny, and in favor of democracy. To commemorate this act, the city placed bronze statues of Harmodius and Aristogiton in the city center. How is this relevant? The Men's Leader thinks that, if he gives an inch to the women, they will take a mile: any increase in women's power places Athens on the road to tyranny.
Quote #9
Men's Leader: "If any man among us gives these women even the tiniest handhold, there's no limit to what their nimble hands will do. Why, they'll even be building frigates and launching naval attacks, cruising against us like Artemisia. And if they turn to horsemanship, you can scratch our cavalry: there's nothing like a woman when it comes to mounting and riding; even riding hard she won't slip off. Just look at the Amazons in Mikon's paintings, riding chargers in battle against men. Our duty is clear: grab each woman's neck and lock it in the wooden stocks!" (advances on the Women's Leader.) (671-681)
This time, the Men's Leader is making an historical comparison to the famous queen Artemisia of Halicarnassus (a city on the west coast of what is now Turkey). Artemisia was a feisty, independent woman, who became known for joining the Persians in their invasion of Greece. At the battle of Salamis, Artemisia commanded a ship against the Greeks; then, in the middle of the battle, after she accidentally rammed a Persian ship, she decided to make good on her mistake—and switched to the Greek side. The Men's Leader's next comparison is to mythology: the Amazons were famous female warriors, who (according to legend) once took over the Acropolis of Athens. Once again, the Men's Leader clearly thinks that any small amount of power given by men to women is equivalent to handing Athens over to her enemies.