ANIMAL IMPERSONATION
Another
early tradition that found its way into Old Comedy is that of komasts dressing
up as wild creatures. Here we see bird dancers on an Attic vase that can
be dated to the period 500 to 480 BC, probably just before the official
recognition of comedy as a feature of the Great Dionysia in 486 BC.
These 'birds' are dancing to the music of a double-aulos player (not visible
in this picture). Other vases dating from as early as the middle
of the sixth century give evidence of komasts dressed up as various kinds
of animals. Aristophanes uses choruses of birds, frogs, and wasps.
We know that his predecessor Magnes employed choruses of birds, frogs and
flies.
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