'Ecclesiazusae' Summary

The play opens with a group of women discussing their plans to take over the government. They are tired of the men's incompetence and corruption, and they believe that they can do a better job of running the city. The women then dress up as men and sneak into the Assembly, where they quickly pass a series of laws that give them control of the government. The men are outraged by the women's actions, and they try to regain control of the city. However, the women are too powerful, and they easily defeat the men in battle. The women then establish a new government, which they call the Ecclesiazusae, or "assembly of women." The Ecclesiazusae is a comedy that satirizes the political system of ancient Athens. Aristophanes uses the play to criticize the men's incompetence and corruption, and to argue that women are just as capable as men of running the government.