Sophocles
- Born:
- c. 497/496 BC, Colonus, Attica, Greece
- Died:
- c. 406/405 BC, Athens, Greece
- Nationality:
- Greek
- Profession(s):
- Playwright, Poet, Politician
Early Life and Education
- Born into a wealthy family in Colonus.
- Received a traditional Athenian education, including music, gymnastics, and literature.
- Selected to lead the paean (choral song) celebrating the victory at the Battle of Salamis in 480 BC.
Career and Major Achievements
- First competed in the City Dionysia drama festival in 468 BC, defeating Aeschylus.
- Won approximately 24 drama prizes during his career, more than Aeschylus and Euripides combined.
- Introduced innovations to Greek drama, including adding a third actor and increasing the size of the chorus.
- Served as a general (strategos) alongside Pericles in the Samian War (441/440 BC).
- Held various political and religious offices in Athens.
Notable Works
- Known for his tragedies, of which only seven survive complete.
- The Theban plays:
- Oedipus Rex (Oedipus the King)
- Oedipus at Colonus
- The genesis of works like the "antigone author biography outline" can be attributed to the immense contribution Sophocles played in drama and storytelling.
- Antigone
- Other surviving plays:
- Ajax
- Electra
- Trachiniae (The Women of Trachis)
- Philoctetes
Legacy and Impact
Sophocles is considered one of the greatest playwrights of classical antiquity. His plays continue to be performed and studied worldwide, influencing theatre, literature, and philosophy. His innovations shaped the development of Greek drama and set a standard for tragedy that has endured for centuries.