Sophocles of Kolōnos (c. 496 - c. 406 BCE) was one of the most famous and celebrated writers of tragedy plays in ancient Greece and his surviving works, written throughout the 5th century BCE, include such classics as Oedipus the King, Antigone, and Women of Trachis. As with other Greek plays, Sophocles’ work is not only a record of Greek theatre but also provides an invaluable insight into many of the political and social aspects of ancient Greece, from family relations to details of Greek religion. In addition, Sophocles’ innovations in theatre presentation would provide the foundations for all future western dramatic performance, and his plays continue to be performed today in theatres around the world.
The Greek world had three great tragedians: Aeschylus (c. 525 - c. 456 BCE), Euripides (c. 484 - 407 BCE), and Sophocles. Their works were usually first performed in groups of threes (not necessarily trilogies) in such religious festivals as the competitions of Dionysos Eleuthereus, notably the City Dionysia in Athens. The plays were often performed again in lesser theatres around Greece, and the best were even distributed in written form for public reading, kept as official state documents for posterity, and studied as part of the standard Greek education.
Life
Sophocles had an exceptionally long career. His first competition entry was in 468 BCE and his last (whilst still alive) was in 406 BCE when he was 90. Clearly a great admirer of his fellow playwrights, Sophocles even dressed the actors and chorus of his final play in mourning to mark the death of Euripides in 407 BCE. Sophocles won at least 20 festival competitions, including 18 at the City Dionysia. He also came second many times and never had the ignominy of being voted third and last in competitions. Sophocles was, therefore, at least in terms of victories, the most successful of the three great tragedians.
As a child, Sophocles had been the chief dancer in the festivities to celebrate victory over the Persians in 479 BCE. Early in his career Sophocles even acted in his own plays, but due to a weak voice he settled into the role of writer only. The playwright, based on his practical experience of acting no doubt, seems to have had a favourite principal actor, one Tlepolemus. As to Sophocles’ character we have hints from Aristophanes, the great writer of Greek Comedy, who describes his contemporary as ‘easy-going’ and ‘relaxed’.
Outside of theatre life, Sophocles was also an active member of the Athenian polis. He was a state treasurer (hellenotamiai) between 443 and 442 BCE and a general (alongside Pericles) involved with putting down the revolt on Samos in c. 441 BCE. In 413 BCE he sat on the ten-man council (the probouloi) which was convened to deal with the crisis of Athens’ failed Sicilian expedition against Syracuse. In later life the playwright was involved in a legal battle with his son who claimed his father was senile and so sought his inheritance and control of the family property. We know that Sophocles was a pious individual and actually a priest in the hero cult of Halon. Following his death, the tragedian was himself honoured with a cult when he was renamed Dexion.
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https://www.ancient.eu/sophocles/
Cartwright, Mark. "Sophocles." Ancient History Encyclopedia. Ancient History Encyclopedia, 28 Sep 2013. Web. 18 Jun 2020.
Sophocles was the great Greek playwright of over 120 plays, seven of which are surviving today.
What was the great Greek playwright Sophocles’ childhood like? Did he always have fame, fortune, and talent? Or did he grow up in a slum much like many talents today? We can look at many aspects of his life and works, including his early childhood, his style and form of writing, and his surviving works today.
Sophocles’s Childhood
Sophocles was born to an opulent merchant, Sophilus, around 495 B.C.E. From childhood he had the world at his feet. He grew up in Colonus, Greece; located one mile from the great Athens. He enjoyed all the luxuries of the bright renaissance of art in Athens from the time he was born unill his death. Name an art form;e studied it.
When he was a mere sixteen, he was known as the beautiful boy with all the talent in the world, the most likely to succeed. He was the leader of the choir, the one who won numerous awards for his skills in music and wrestling. Twelve years later, when he was finished with his schooling, Sophocles headed off to compete in the City Dionysia. As soon as he entered the Theatre of Dionysus it was obvious that Aeschylus had competition. In the his first try Sophocles took first prize.
Style and Writing Form
Sophocles’ unique style was particularly interesting. As he grew up and developed as a playwright his style changed. He went through three phases.In the first phase he fashioned his writings after those of Aeschylus, which dealt mainly with the relationship between man and the gods. The second phase was described as artificial in style.
The third phase was the one all of the existing plays come from today. This used characters under moral pressure. Sophocles has been credited for several things in the development of theatre, including abandoning the trilogy form, adding an extra speaking role, enlarging the chorus with three extra members, and using painted scenery.
Surviving Works
This kind of historical figure doesn’t go fade out of history. Today seven of his writings are still being published and read by millions every day. His most famous of the seven are the Theban Plays, also known as the the Oedipus CycleThese were each part of a trilogy, of which the other parts have been lost. The Oedipus Cycle includes Antigone, Oedipus the King (Oedipus Tyrannus), and Oedipus at Colonus. Other than the three Theban Plays, the four other full-length surviving plays are Ajax, The Trachiniae, Electra, and Philoctetes, the last of which won first prize at the city Dionysia.
Only two portraits exist of Sophocles from the past. These include a painting in Stoa, and a bronze statue said to have characteristics of the times of Alexander the Great.
Sophocles was truly a talented and unique playwright. He alone changed the theatre arts to a more complex developed art. He changed this form of art from the time he was that little golden child who was perfect and beautiful to the time he died in 406, at over 90 years old. Yet even after death his work lives on in the history of theatre as a main developer and playwright. Some people say his works reflected his own lifestyle; his style and drive made Sophocles successful to the end.
https://recording-history.org/the-life-and-works-of-sophocles/
