The play Lysistrata by Aristophanes creates a very important dilemma to the men of Ancient Greece. The Peloponnesian War had been raging through Greece for over a decade when Aristophanes wrote this social commentary. It came after a devastating defeat in Sicily. The Athenians decided to go on a naval expedition against Sicily to make themselves look stronger against Sparta. The Sicilians massacred them; no soldiers came back from Sicily. This obvious blow to the Athenians upset many citizens. This spurred the protest play. Lysistrata organizes the women of Athens, Sparta, Thebes, and other surrounding cities to abstain from sex until peace is reached.

Sex was very important in Ancient Greece. So much so that it was acceptable for men to cheat on their wives with other women and men. It was ordinary for men to sleep with cortisones. They were not citizens but had more rights than...