Aristophanes, Dikaiopolis and the Comic Mask of Phasis: An Unnoticed Legal Pun in Acharnians?

Abstract

This paper seeks to demonstrate that the repeated allusions to the procedure of *phasis* in Aristophanes' *Acharnians* can cast light onto the long-standing debate concerning the close relationship between the playwright and his comic hero. I contend that *Aristo-phanes* could have disguised his own identity under that of his hero *Dikaio-polis* and thus resorted to a subtle wordplay in order to claim justice on stage and counterattack Kleon's previous attempt to prosecute him.