Week 16
"Sophocles (c. 496–406 BC) is one of three ancient Greek tragedians whose plays have survived. His first plays were written later than, or contemporary with, those of Aeschylus; and earlier than, or contemporary with, those of Euripides. Sophocles wrote over 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 fifty 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 thirty competitions, won twenty-four, and was never judged lower than second place. Aeschylus won thirteen competitions, and was sometimes defeated by Sophocles; Euripides won four. The most famous tragedies of Sophocles feature Oedipus and Antigone: they are generally known as the Theban plays. Sophocles influenced the development of drama, most importantly by adding a third actor (attributed to Sophocles by Aristotle) 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."(Wikipedia)
Athens and the Golden Age
Athens: 450 BC
Pericles, Sophocles
REQUIRED READING
WE WILL READ ANTIGONE IN THIS COLECTION...PENGUIN CLASSICS...ROBERT FAGELS TRANSLATOR
