Sophocles

Sophocles was an ancient Greek tragedian who lived from about 497/496 BC to 406/405 BC. He was one of the greatest playwrights of ancient Greece, and wrote more than 120 plays. Unfortunately, most of his works have been lost, but seven complete plays have survived. These include famous stories like Oedipus Rex and Antigone.

Sophocles was very successful in the dramatic competitions held in Athens during festivals like the Lenaea and the Dionysia. He competed 30 times and won 24 of those competitions. He was never lower than second place. Sometimes he even beat another famous playwright named Aeschylus.

Sophocles changed drama by adding a third actor to plays. Before this, most of the story was told by just one or two actors and a chorus. Adding a third actor allowed for more interesting characters and stories. His plays still influence actors and writers today.

Life

Sophocles was a wealthy member of the rural community of Hippeius Colonus in Attica. He was likely born there a few years before the Battle of Marathon in 490 BC. His first big win came in 468 BC when he took first prize in the Dionysia festival, beating the famous playwright Aeschylus.

Sophocles held several important roles in Athens, including leading a chant to celebrate a Greek victory and serving as a treasurer and general. He died at the age of 90 or 91 in the winter of 406/5 BC, after living through both the Persian Wars and the Peloponnesian War. His works remain celebrated, and his son and grandson also became playwrights.

Works and legacy

Sophocles made important changes to how plays were written. He developed characters more deeply than earlier playwrights and added a third actor. This reduced the role of the chorus and allowed for more drama and conflict in his stories. After the famous playwright Aeschylus died, Sophocles became the leading playwright in Athens, winning many competitions.

Only seven of Sophocles's plays survive today, and only two have exact dates: Philoctetes from 409 BC and Oedipus at Colonus from 401 BC. His plays often explore themes of fate and early logic, continuing the tradition of Greek tragedy. Among his most famous works are the three Theban plays: Oedipus Rex, Oedipus at Colonus, and Antigone. These plays tell the story of King Oedipus, who unknowingly kills his father and marries his mother, leading to a curse on his family for three generations. Each play was written separately for different competitions and has some differences in the story.

Sophocles also wrote other famous plays such as Ajax, The Women of Trachis, Electra, and Philoctetes. These plays cover various stories from Greek mythology, including the tragic end of the hero Ajax and the adventures of Heracles.

Reception

Sophocles' work was well-liked and remembered even in ancient times. Many writers from around the same time as Sophocles mentioned his plays and ideas in their own work. This shows that people back then thought Sophocles was an important and influential writer. His plays continued to be respected and studied throughout history.

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Locations named after

There is a crater on the planet Mercury that is named Sophocles (crater) in honor of the ancient Greek writer.