Explores Aristophanic comedy and traces key features through Greek and Latin literature Explores both canonical literary texts and understudied works to offer new insights into key features of Aristophanic dramaturgy and its direct and indirect influence on later Greek and Roman literature Brings together the perspective of established and new scholars Draws upon an array of approaches to ancient drama (gender studies, genre theory, literary criticism, performance studies, social history) and extends these approaches to later works of literature The Spirit of Aristophanes is a wide-ranging collection of new studies of ancient literature and culture from fifth-century drama to the Roman novel. The essays use an array of approaches that will appeal to scholars and students interested in classical studies, gender and sexuality, literary history, performance and textual criticism. This volume has been prepared in tribute to Jeffrey Henderson, William Goodwin Aurelio Professor of Greek Language and Literature Emeritus of Boston University and General Editor of the Loeb Classical Library. His vibrant research on classical literature, political ideology, civic culture, identity, obscenity and translation has shaped scholarly discourse for decades and has inspired each of the essays in this volume.