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Ancient Athenian political satires that specifically name or indicate public figures reveal the presence of freedom of speech for the comedians at least. An analysis of Athenian law upholds this idea since censorship occurred only rarely. The decline of Greek comedy in Athens during the 4th Century may be related to some political change in comedians' exemption from laws relating to slander. During other politically stressful periods, Athenian society restricted comedic rights by public consensus when the satire endangered stability.

The work of the twenty-first century that reflect the styles and repetitions of Homeric Greek Literature is discussed. The works explore the stories that draw comparison with many non- Greek traditions.

Several recent books on Greek literature are examined.

Sir,--Simon Goldhill (Letters, September 16) now claims that the Greek verb I translated in Aristophanes as 'ejaculate' was 'not primarily a formal sexual term'; but this flies in the face [...]

Pawel Janiszewski, Krystyna Stebnicka, Elzbieta Szabat, editors PROSOPOGRAPHY OF GREEK RHETORS AND SOPHISTS OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE 480pp. Oxford University Press. 100 [pounds sterling]. 978 0 19 871340 1 In [...]

Joshua Billings, Felix Budelmann and Fiona Macintosh, editors CHORUSES, ANCIENT AND MODERN 448pp. Oxford University Press. 90 [pounds sterling] (US $185). 978 0 19 967057 4 Renaud Gagne and Marianne [...]