Aristophanes’ comedies were translated into German late, not least on account of their obscene humor and allusions to contemporary politics. Droysen’s 1835-38 translations were among the first complete German editions to be published. This study examines Droysen’s position vis-a-vis the classicizing tradition of translating and towards the reception of Aristophanes by German "Vormärz" authors as they rediscovered the plays’ political content.