Lysistrata, a young Athenian woman, calls a meeting of all the women in the various Greek city-states. She and her friend Calonice discuss the fact that, in order to stop the war that is taking place, all of the women must seduce their husbands aggressively, but then deny them sex, as a way of convincing them to stop the Peloponnesian war. She manages to get the women to agree, albeit reluctantly, and also convinces the Spartan woman, Lampito, to join. They share some wine and repeat an elaborate oath, agreeing not to have sex.
Meanwhile, the old women of Athens seize the Acropolis and the treasury inside. While Lysistrata and the women go into the Acropolis, Lampito goes to spread the word of the revolt. A chorus of men arrive with torches and tell the women to open the Acropolis, threatening to burn the gate if they do not. The women throw cold water on the crotches of the men and they retreat.
The magistrate arrives and belittles the women for their rowdy rebellions, then belittles the men for not keeping a tighter watch on their wives. When Lysistrata enters, the men threaten to arrest her, but she warns them that there are many battalions of women ready to fight them with various kitchen items. Lysistrata tells the magistrate that the women are sick of listening to their husbands make mistakes and want to be able to have an effect on policy.
In Scene 3, Lysistrata tells the women that she is dismayed because some of them are wanting to have sex. As women sneak out, she sends them back into the Acropolis. Later, Cinesias visits looking for Myrrhina, his wife. Lysistrata advises Myrrhina to seduce Cinesias well, but then refuse to satisfy him sexually. She does as Lysistrata advises, and tortures her husband with various seductions, but never lets him consummate.
A Spartan herald enters and declares that Spartan authorities want to declare peace. Cinesias tells him he will agree to do the same. In the final scene, Lampito leads the Spartan herald onstage, as Cinesias enters as well. The two men ask for Lysistrata, who comes in with a walking, naked statue, called "Peace." The men are distracted by their desire for "Peace," as Lysistrata gets them each to negotiate a peaceful end to the war. They agree, and everyone goes to celebrate with a rowdy feast inside the Acropolis.
