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This thesis examines the representation of the 'demagogues', the leaders of Athens' radical democracy in the late-fifth and early-fourth centuries B.C., in the genre of Old Comedy. It looks at the comic sources, including the work of Aristophanes and fragments of the comedies of other poets, to see how they characterised the demagogues in their work, and to what purpose. A number of themes are studied, with the comic abuse quoted in the original Greek and in my own translations. The themes examined make up the chapters of the thesis, and are qualities with which the demagogues were charged in comedy. They are foreign parentage, trade and artisanship, cowardice, effeminacy and gluttony. It also studies animal imagery in relation to the demagogues and its significance. After setting out the aims of the thesis and covering the background to the material, including short biographies of the demagogues and the main poets whose work is quoted, and the concept of the term 'demagogue', the thesis proceeds with a study of the work of Aristotle on virtues and vices. This is relevant to the study of the comic representation of the demagogues because they are attributed with the vices defined by Aristotle as <I>akrasia </I>and <I>akolasia</I>, and as lacking the positive quality of <I>sophrosyne</I>. Athenian philosophical thought considered that Athenians should possess this quality if they were to be deemed worthy of citizenship. The comic poets imply, by way of the negative qualities they attribute to the demagogues, that they were not worthy in citizenship and therefore not qualified - either in social or moral terms - to lead the <I>demos</I>.

This dissertation investigates what it means to be human in Homer’s <i>Iliad</i>. It begins by looking at how Homer’s depiction of the human condition centres on the negative aspects of human life such as mortality, suffering and loss. The tragedy of mortality irremediably underlies all of human existence, and heroic death only partially compensates for it. Lamentation highlights suffering rather than glory as a consequence of war. The thesis goes on to explore how some forms of compensation and happiness are still possible in personal relationships through such positive values as pity and gentleness, which encourage solidarity and fellow-feeling among human beings, even between enemies. The poem ends with a striking act of compassion for a personal enemy: indeed, those gentler virtues ultimately transcend even nationalities and war, as can be seen in the meeting between Priam and Achilles. In addition to individual interpersonal relationships, another way for human beings to mitigate the tragic human condition is found through social organisation. The dissertation analyses this by looking at forms of conflict resolution, and different approaches to political organisation. Overall, the dissertation investigates how Homer portrays the complex dynamic between the negativity of mortality and suffering and their potential positive consequences, such as human solidarity. The depiction of suffering puts the emphasis on the losses and grief that war creates, rather than the glory the heroes are hoping to gain. Furthermore, the desire for a glorious end on the battlefield is counterbalanced by the great feat and hatred of death found throughout the poem and an intense love for live and its beauties.

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