Sophocles: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia

m

Line 1:

[[Image:Sophocles bust.jpg|200px|thumb|right|A Roman bust of Sophocles.]]

'''Sophocles''' ([[496 BCEBC|496]]¹—[[406 BCEBC]]; [[Greek language|Greek]]: '''SophoklesΣοφοκλης''') was an [[Ancient Greece|ancient Greek]] playwright, [[dramatist]], priest, and [[politician]] of [[Athens]]. He is known as the second of the three great Greek [[tragedy|tragedians]]; Sophocles was 30 years younger than [[Aeschylus]] and 15 years older than [[Euripides]], and was often in competition with both in dramatic contests.

He is most noted for his prolific playwriting. He wrote 123 plays and had 24 victories² in the dramatic competitions in the [[Festival of Dionysus]], more than any other. (This means 96 plays won first prize, as they were submitted in fours). Records indicate that none of his plays earned anything lower than second place.

Line 9:

Sophocles was born about a mile northwest of Athens, in the ''deme'' (small community) of Colonus Hippius in [[Attica]]. His birth took place five years before the [[Battle of Marathon]], and fifteen before the [[Battle of Salamis]]. His father, Sophilos (sometimes "Sophillus"), was a wealthy merchant. Some historians speculate that Sophilos was a [[carpenter]], [[smith]], or [[sword]]maker; the majority believe he ran some kind of [[Weapon|armaments]] business that employed people of many occupations.

As a boy, Sopocles was educated in the arts and at a [[palaestra]]. He won awards in [[wrestling]] and [[music]], and was said to be graceful and handsome. At the age of 16, he was chosen to lead the boys' chorus (''[[paean]]'') at the Athenian celebration of the victory aganist the [[Persian]]s at the Battle of Salamis in [[480 BCEBC|480]].

Twelve years later, his studies complete, he was ready to compete in the City Dionysia--a festival held every year at the Theatre of Dionysus in which new plays were presented.

==Surviving works==

*''[[Oedipus the King]]'' (''Oedipus Rex'' or ''Oedipus TyrannusTyrannos'')

*''[[Oedipus at Colonus]]''

*''[[Antigone (Sophocles)|Antigone]]''