10 Interesting Sophocles Facts

Sunday, September 6th 2015. | People


If you want to know one of the three ancient Greek tragedians, check Sophocles Facts. Sophocles is famous as a wonderful tragedian. The report states that he had made 123 plays. However, only 7 of his plays survive today. He was considered as the most important playwright for almost 50 years. The City state of Athens always had a religions festival of Dionysian and Lenaea where the dramatic competition was held.  Here are other facts about Sophocles:

Sophocles Facts 1: the competition in the city state of Athens

Sophocles followed the dramatist competition during the festival in Athens.  He won 24 of 30 competitions that he followed.

Sophocles Facts 2: other contemporaries

His contemporaries were Euripides and Aeschylus. The former contemporary only won four, while the latter one won 14. Get facts about Greek theater here.

Sophocles

Sophocles

Sophocles Facts 3: the survived plays

As I have stated before, there were seven plays of Sophocles survived. Those include The Women of Trachis, Antigone, Ajax, Oedipus at Colonus, Oedipus the King, Philoctetes and Electra.

Sophocles Facts 4: Theban plays

Theban plays were written by Sophocles.  The famous ones feature Antigone and Oedipus. People consider both characters as the famous ones in the Sophocles’ tragedies.

Sophocles Statue

Sophocles Statue

Sophocles Facts 5: the third actor

The third actor was introduced by Sophocles in his dramas. He made the chorus less important to present the plot of the drama. Check facts about Greek drama here.

Sophocles Facts 6: Sophilus

Sophilus was the son of Sophocles. Some people believe that he was born in Colonus Hippies in Attica. Sophocles used it as the setting in his drama.

Sophocles Pic

Sophocles Pic

Sophocles Facts 7: the date of birth of Sophocles

It is not easy to find out the birth date of Sophocles. The exact year of Sophocles’ birth date remains uncertain. The people assume that he was born in 497 or 496 for he was born before the battle of Marathon in 490 BC.

Sophocles Facts 8: the early family life

Sophocles was not from a poor family. His father was a highly educated person. He worked as an armour manufacturer.

Sophocles Facts

Sophocles Facts

Sophocles Facts 9: the first victory in drama competition

In 468 BC, Sophocles won his first victory in Dionysian drama competition where he got the first prize.

Sophocles Facts 10: the important events in Sophocles’ life

Sophocles led a choral chant to a god or a paean in 480 BC. It was used to celebrate the triumph that the Greeks had at the Battle of Salamis for they defeated the Persians.  In the winter of 406 or 405, Sophocles passed away. He was 90 or probably 91 years old.

Sophocles Bust

Sophocles Bust

Do you have any opinion on facts about Sophocles?


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