Sophocles

Sophocles (c. 497–406 BCE) was one of the three great tragedians of classical Athens, alongside Aeschylus and Euripides. Born in Colonus, he was a prominent public figure, serving as a general and priest. He revolutionized drama by introducing a third actor, reducing the chorus's role, and deepening psychological complexity. Of his estimated 120 plays, only seven complete works survive: Ajax, Antigone, Oedipus Rex, Electra, Trachiniae, Philoctetes, and Oedipus at Colonus. Antigone, a powerful exploration of civil disobedience and moral duty, remains a cornerstone of Western literature. Sophocles won more dramatic competitions than any contemporary, and his influence endures through his profound insights into human suffering, fate, and justice. His legacy as a master of tragic form continues to inspire playwrights and readers across millennia.