Sophocles - Revision history

Irlandos at 14:52, May 20, 2008

2008-05-20T14:52:28Z

Irlandos: /* Fragmentary plays */

2005-12-21T10:27:29Z

Fragmentary plays

Irlandos at 10:25, December 21, 2005

2005-12-21T10:25:48Z

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'''Sophocles''' ([[496 BC]]–[[406 BC]]; [[Greek language|Greek]]: '''Σοφοκλης''') was an [[Ancient Greece|ancient Greek]] playwright, dramatist, priest and politician of [[Athens]]. He was also a general for the [[Athenian Empire]] in the [[Peloponnesian Wars]], and during his service he led the battle against the Peloponnesian Island of Samos. He is sometimes known as the '''Attic Bee''' for the "sweetness of his productions." Sophocles is the second, chronologically, of the three great Greek tragedians; he was several decades younger than [[Aeschylus]] and a decade or so older than [[Euripides]], and was often in competition with both in dramatic contests.

The year of his birth is contested, with [[488 BC]], [[495 BC]], and [[496 BC]] each having advocates. 495, however, is preferred by most eminent historians. He is most noted for his prolific playwriting. He wrote 123 plays; in the dramatic competitions of the [[Festival of Dionysus]] (where each submission by one author consisted of four plays), he won more first prizes (around 20) than any other playwright.

Many scholars, including [[Aristotle]], considered Sophocles to be the greatest playwright in ancient [[Greek theatre]]. However, of the hundreds of works he produced in his lifetime, only seven tragedies have survived in their complete forms, along with around half of a satire play. (Sixty to 90 others exist in fragments). The most famous of his surviving works are his famous [[three Theban plays]], the tragedies surrounding [[Oedipus]] and [[Antigone]].

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

As a boy, Sophocles 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 sixteen, he was chosen to lead the chorus of naked boys (''[[paean]]'') at the Athenian celebration of the victory against the [[Persian Empire|Persian]]s at the [[Battle of Salamis]] in [[480 BC]].

Twelve years later, Sophocles first entered the Festival of [[Dionysus]] with his play ''[[Triptolemos (Sophocles)|The Triptolemos]]''. He took first prize, defeating even [[Aeschylus]]. Surprisingly, Sophocles's most famous play, ''[[Oedipus the King]]'', only won second place.

In [[440 BC]], Sophocles was elected as one of the ten ''[[strategos|strategoi]]'' (military commanders) of Athens.

==Surviving works==
''Years are approximate''

===The Theban plays===
* [[442 BC]] ''[[Antigone (Sophocles)|Antigone]]''
* [[427 BC]] ''[[Oedipus the King]]'' (''Oedipus Rex'' or ''Oedipus Tyrannos'')
* [[407 BC]] ''[[Oedipus at Colonus]]''

===Other plays===
* [[445 BC]] ''[[Ajax (Sophocles)|Ajax]]''
* [[413 BC]] ''[[The Trachiniae]]''
* [[410 BC]] ''[[Electra (Sophocles)|Electra]]''
* [[410 BC]] ''[[Philoctetes (Sophocles)|Philoctetes]]''

===Fragmentary plays===
* [[5th century BC]] ''[[The Tracking Satyrs]]''
* [[5th century BC]] ''[[The Progeny]]''

Fragments of ''[[The Tracking Satyrs]]'' (''Ichneutae'') were discovered in [[Egypt]] in [[1907]]. It is one of only two recovered [[satyr plays]].

Fragments of ''[[The Progeny]]'' (''Epigonoi'') were discovered in [[April]] [[2005]] by classicists at Oxford University with the help of infrared technology previously used for satellite imaging. The tragedy tells the story of the siege of [[Thebes]]. The fragment translates to the following:

:'''''Speaker A:''' . . . gobbling the whole, sharpening the flashing iron.''
:'''''Speaker B:''' And the helmets are shaking their purple-dyed crests, and for the wearers of breast-plates the weavers are striking up the wise shuttle's songs, that wakes up those who are asleep.''
:'''''Speaker A:''' And he is gluing together the chariot's rail.'' [http://news.independent.co.uk/world/science_technology/story.jsp?story=630165]

==Trivia==

An [[asteroid]], [[2921 Sophocles]], was named after him.

==External links==

*[http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/vor?x=0;y=0;lookup=Sophocles;target=en%2C0;alts=1;extern=1;group=fieldcat;collection=Perseus%3Acollection%3AGreco-Roman;doctype=Text Works of Sophocles at the Perseus Digital Library (Greek and English)]
*[http://www.quote-fox.com/QuoteFox/plBrowse.php/?browse_cmd=browse_source&author_name=Sophocles Sophocles Quotes]

[[Category:406 BC deaths]]
[[Category:Ancient Athenians]]
[[Category:Ancient Greek dramatists and playwrights]]
[[Category:Ancient Greek poets]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:52, May 20, 2008
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−	'''Sophocles''' ([[496 BC]]–[[406 BC]]; [[Greek language\|Greek]]: '''~~Σοφοκλης~~''') was an [[Ancient Greece\|ancient Greek]] playwright, dramatist, priest and politician of [[Athens]]. He was also a general for the [[Athenian Empire]] in the [[Peloponnesian Wars]], and during his service he led the battle against the Peloponnesian Island of Samos. He is sometimes known as the '''Attic Bee''' for the "sweetness of his productions." Sophocles is the second, chronologically, of the three great Greek tragedians; he was several decades younger than [[Aeschylus]] and a decade or so older than [[Euripides]], and was often in competition with both in dramatic contests.	+	'''Sophocles''' ([[496 BC]]–[[406 BC]]; [[Greek language\|Greek]]: '''Σοφοκλής''') was an [[Ancient Greece\|ancient Greek]] playwright, dramatist, priest and politician of [[Athens]]. He was also a general for the [[Athenian Empire]] in the [[Peloponnesian Wars]], and during his service he led the battle against the Peloponnesian Island of Samos. He is sometimes known as the '''Attic Bee''' for the "sweetness of his productions." Sophocles is the second, chronologically, of the three great Greek tragedians; he was several decades younger than [[Aeschylus]] and a decade or so older than [[Euripides]], and was often in competition with both in dramatic contests.

	The year of his birth is contested, with [[488 BC]], [[495 BC]], and [[496 BC]] each having advocates. 495, however, is preferred by most eminent historians. He is most noted for his prolific playwriting. He wrote 123 plays; in the dramatic competitions of the [[Festival of Dionysus]] (where each submission by one author consisted of four plays), he won more first prizes (around 20) than any other playwright.		The year of his birth is contested, with [[488 BC]], [[495 BC]], and [[496 BC]] each having advocates. 495, however, is preferred by most eminent historians. He is most noted for his prolific playwriting. He wrote 123 plays; in the dramatic competitions of the [[Festival of Dionysus]] (where each submission by one author consisted of four plays), he won more first prizes (around 20) than any other playwright.

@@ Line 31: / Line 31: @@
 * [[5th century BC]] ''[[The Progeny]]''
-Fragments of ''[[The Tracking Satyrs]]'' (''Ichneutae'') were discovered in [[Egypt]] in [[1907]]. It is one of only two recovered [[satyr plays]].
+Fragments of ''[[The Tracking Satyrs]]'' (''Ichneutae'') were discovered in Egypt in [[1907]]. It is one of only two recovered [[satyr plays]].
 Fragments of ''[[The Progeny]]'' (''Epigonoi'') were discovered in [[April]] [[2005]] by classicists at Oxford University with the help of infrared technology previously used for satellite imaging. The tragedy tells the story of the siege of [[Thebes]]. The fragment translates to the following: