The New Student's Reference Work/Sophocles
Sophocles (sŏf′ô-klēz), an Athenian poet, was born in 496 B. C. At 16 he was chosen to lead the chorus of youths who celebrated the naval victory of Salamis. At 28, in a dramatic contest, he was awarded the prize which had been given to Æschylus for many years. Only seven of his many dramas are preserved, but these place him at the head of the Greek dramatists. The probable order in which they appeared is Ajax; Antigone; Electra, Œdipus the King; Trachinian Women; Philoctetes; and Œdipus at Coloneus. Antigone, one of the earliest dramas, produced in 440, gained the prize and so pleased the Athenians that he was made commander with Pericles in the Samian War. There are only fragments and titles of the other plays. He is said to have been beautiful in person, a fine musician and athlete and a ready wit. His death has been attributed to losing his breath in prolonging his voice in a public reading of Antigone; or to excess of joy at a dramatic victory; but without sufficient authority. He died in 405 B. C. Consult Sophocles in Green's "Classical Writers," by Campbell and Lectures by Schlegel. See Æschylus, Drama and Euripides.