Who Was Sophocles?:
Occupation: Playwright
Sophocles was the second of the 3 greatest Greek writers of tragedy (with Aeschylus and Euripides). He is known best for what he wrote about Oedipus, the mythological figure who proved central to Freud and the history of psychoanalysis. He lived through most of the 5th century, experiencing the Age of Pericles and the Peloponnesian War.
Basics:
Public Offices:
Religious Office:
Sophocles was a priest of Halon and helped introduce the cult of Asclepius, god of medicine, to Athens. He was honored posthumously as a hero.
Source:
Greek Tragedy An Introduction, by Bernhard Zimmerman. 1986.
Dramatic Accomplishments:
In 468, Sophocles defeated the first of the the three great Greek tragedians, Aeschylus, in a dramatic competition; then in 441, the third of the tragedian trio, Euripides, beat him. During his long life Sophocles earned many prizes, including about 20 for 1st place.
Sophocles increased the number of actors to 3 (thereby reducing the importance of the chorus). He broke from Aeschylus' thematically-unified trilogies, and invented skenographia (scene painting), to define the background.
Extant Plays:
Seven complete tragedies
- Oedipus Tyrannus
- Oedipus at Colonus
- Antigone
- Electra
- Trachiniae
- Ajax
- Philoctetes
Prize Dates When Known:
Ajax (440's)
Antigone (442?)
Electra
Oedipus at Colonus
Oedipus Tyrannus (425?)
Philoctetes (409)
Trachiniae
Greek Theater Study Guide:
Study Guides For Sophocles' Tragedies:
Ajax
Antigone
Trachinian Women
Philoctetes
Electra
Oedipus Tyrannos
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Ancient/Classical History's Summary
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Ancient/Classical History's Notes on Dramatis
Personae
- Ancient/Classical History's Study Questions
-
Robin
Mitchell-Boyask's Study Guide .
- Roger Dunkle's Study Guide.
