Which religious festivals hosted the comedies of Aristophanes?

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The comedies of Aristophanes, a prominent writer of Old Comedy, were performed at two major Athenian festivals held in honor of the god Dionysus:

  • The Great Dionysia (or City Dionysia): This was the principal dramatic festival, held in the spring (March), where comedy was introduced as a competitive category in 486 BCE.12
  • The Lenaea: This was a minor winter festival held in January. Comedy was introduced to the Lenaea in 440 BCE.2

While the Great Dionysia was a major venue for his work—such as his play Babylonians—Aristophanes and other comic poets competed for prizes at both of these official religious celebrations.23