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Sophocles

• Writing

Sophocles (c. 497/496 – winter 406/405 BC) was an ancient Greek tragedian known as one of three from whom at least two plays have survived in full. His first plays were written later than, or contemporary with, those of Aeschylus and earlier than, or contemporary with, those of Euripides. Sophocles wrote more than 120 plays, but only seven have survived in a complete form: Ajax, Antigone, Women of Trachis, Oedipus Rex, Electra, Philoctetes, and Oedipus at Colonus. For almost 50 years, Sophocles was the most celebrated playwright in the dramatic competitions of the city-state of Athens, which took place during the religious festivals of the Lenaea and the Dionysia. He competed in 30 competitions, won 24, and was never judged lower than second place. Aeschylus won 13 competitions and was sometimes beaten by Sophocles; Euripides won four. The most famous tragedies of Sophocles feature Oedipus and Antigone: they are generally known as the Theban plays, though each was part of a different tetralogy (the other members of which are now lost). Sophocles influenced the development of drama, most importantly by adding a third actor (attributed to Sophocles by Aristotle; to Aeschylus by Themistius), thereby reducing the importance of the chorus in the presentation of the plot. He also developed his characters to a greater extent than earlier playwrights.

Known For

Oedipus Rex

68%

Theatre Play

1967

Antigone

68%

Theatre Play

2019

Hercules Unchained

51%

Theatre Play

1959

The Year of the Cannibals

53%

Theatre Play

1969

Antigone

60%

Original Story

1992

Antigone

76%

Original Story

1961

Oedipus Mayor

54%

Original Story

1996

Oedipus Rex

61%

Original Story

1957

Philharmonie de Paris: Antigone

Writer

2025

アンティゴネイタス

60%

Original Story

2025

Elettra 2025

65%

Writer

2025

Edipo a Colono 2025

75%

Writer

2025

Antigone

Writer

2024

Tracking Satyrs

Theatre Play

2022

Edipo Re (Teatro Greco di Siracusa)

80%

Writer

2022

Return

53%

Original Story

2021

Antígona Pajubá

Theatre Play

2021

Atlantis

Original Story

2021

ITA Live: Oedipus

Theatre Play

2021

The Oedipus Project

100%

Original Story

2020

Antigone

68%

Theatre Play

2019

Antigone at the Barbican

45%

Original Story

2015

Elektra

60%

Theatre Play

2013

National Theatre Live: Antigone

90%

Theatre Play

2012

Los sabuesos de Sófocles

Original Story

2004

L'origine du monde

65%

Original Story

2001

Oedipus Mayor

54%

Original Story

1996

Elektra

62%

Original Story

1994

Antigone

60%

Original Story

1992

Oidipus Rex

Theatre Play

1988

Elettra

90%

Theatre Play

1987

Theban Plays: Antigone

90%

Theatre Play

1986

Theban Plays: Oedipus at Colonus

80%

Theatre Play

1986

Theban Plays: Oedipus the King

45%

Theatre Play

1986

Electra

80%

Theatre Play

1986

Elettra, l'attesa

Theatre Play

1986

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