This study of the gods in Aristophanes' Birds has served two purposes. It has presented each of the scenes in which the gods appear, paying close attention to their physical characteristics, as well as literary, religious, and philosophical contexts. Second, it has suggested a new political reading of the play. Because there are elements of unique fantasy and utopia in the play, many scholars have been unwilling to see Birds in relation to Athenian politics.[1] But when we look closely at how Peisetairos interacts with the gods he aims to overthrow, and how his world is different from both Olympos and Athens, we, as well as Aristophanes' audience, are left with a play that presents a fantastic world many Athenians desired to have. Only those who wished to continue living in an Athens where the stability of the demos depended on leaders who did not always have its interests at heart would reject Peisetairos' creation.