Sophocles

Sophocles was an Ancient Greek playwright and the leader of Greek tragedy. He is best known for his trilogy of plays entitled “Oedipus the King,” “Antigone,” and “Oedipus at Colonus.” Born circa 495 BCE, Sophocles was one of the greatest of the Greek tragedians. He fought in the Battle of Salamis as an Athenian warrior in 480 BCE.

Sophocles was born in Colonus, an Attic deme (a community with its own council and public laws) located near Athens. He was the son of Sophilus, a local merchant and was of good repute and wealth. His father was very influential in the local community and it is believed that Sophocles received much of his education from the greatest teachers of the time. He became the first writer to add a third character to the plays he wrote, in addition to the two characters found in Athenian drama of the time.

Sophocles’ earliest successes as a playwright were found in the Dionysia festival, where he won first prize as early as 468 BCE. During his long career, Sophocles wrote an estimated 123 plays with only 7 of those plays surviving. His most renowned tragedies include “Oedipus the King” (circa 429 BCE) which tells the story of the famous character, Oedipus, who unknowingly kills his father, marries his mother and carries out a succession of horrible deeds. His second most famous play is “Antigone” (circa 441BCE) which follows the story of Antigone and her brothers’ struggle over who should be given the right to bury and mourn their father, the King of Thebes. The trilogy of plays known as “The Theban Plays” were completed with the play “Oedipus at Colonus” (circa 401BCE) where fate sends Oedipus exile from Thebes.

The plays of Sophocles are unique in that they introduce a variety of themes such as human suffering, personal responsibility, family and political issues, fate and justice, war and peace, and moral truths. His works are beloved for their deep philosophical content and for being highly successful in demonstrating the immense power of the human soul.

Sophocles' influence on literature and drama has been profound. His stories have been adapted numerous times, to diverse media throughout the centuries. In literature his works have been translated and studied by respected English poets such as Shelley, Keats and Shaw. In the theatre, he is considered one of the founding fathers of the dramatic structures used in modern theatre. His works continue to be performed, read and studied by generations of students worldwide.

Sophocles died in 406 BCE, leaving behind an immense body of work that has inspired many generations of writers and readers. He was an innovator who pushed the boundaries of literature, bringing together philosophy and drama in a unique way. He will forever be remembered as one of the greatest tragedians of all time.