De Ridders

A comedic play written in the early 5th century BC. The play is a satire that targets Kleon, a powerful political figure in Athens, depicting him as a brutish Paphlagonian slave in the household of the character Demos, who represents the Athenian people. The story unfolds as various characters, including a sausage vendor, engage in a battle of wits and insults aimed at displacing Kleon from his position of influence over Demos. The opening of the play introduces the dire situation of Demos, who has been manipulated by the Paphlagonian, emphasizing the discontent among the slaves who suffer under his authority. Two slaves express their discomfort about their new master, Kléon, and concoct a plan to seek help from Agorákritos, a sausage vendor, to save them. The arrival of the sausage vendor and the ensuing banter establishes the play’s comedic tone, highlighting the ridiculousness of Athenian politics and defeating a corrupt politician through wits and humor. As Demos takes his seat on the Pnyx, the scene sets the stage for a contest between Kléon and the sausage vendor, promising humorous social commentary and political satire to come.