Sophocles | Brief Biography
Sophocles | Brief Biography
Sophocles was a Greek playwright and philosopher who lived from 496 BC to 406 BC. He was one of the three great tragedians of classical Athens, along with Aeschylus and Euripides, and is considered one of the greatest playwrights of all time.
Sophocles was born in Colonus Hippius, near Athens, to a wealthy and influential family. He was well-educated and showed an early talent for writing, composing his first play when he was only in his twenties. Over the course of his long career, he wrote more than 120 plays, many of which are still widely performed and studied today.
Sophocles is best known for his contributions to the genre of tragedy. He is said to have introduced several important innovations to the form, including the use of a third actor and the expansion of the chorus. He also wrote some of the most famous works in the tragic canon, including “Oedipus Rex,” “Antigone,” and “Electra.” These plays dealt with weighty themes such as fate, destiny, justice, and human suffering, and are considered some of the finest examples of the genre.
Aside from his writing, Sophocles was also an active participant in the political and cultural life of Athens. He served as a general in the Peloponnesian War, and was said to have been a close friend of Pericles, one of the most influential leaders of classical Athens. He was also involved in the production of dithyrambs, choral hymns to the god Dionysus, and was a member of the city’s cultural and intellectual elite.
In addition to his writing and political activities, Sophocles was also known for his wisdom and philosophical views. He was said to have been a devotee of the Pythagorean philosophy, which emphasized mathematics, ethics, and a mystical approach to the study of the natural world. He was also a firm believer in the concept of fate, and several of his plays deal with the idea of a predetermined destiny that cannot be avoided.
Sophocles lived a long and productive life, dying at the age of 90. He left a lasting legacy, not only as one of the greatest playwrights of all time, but also as a philosopher and thinker whose ideas continue to influence and inspire people today. 0 0 0.
N. B. This article originally belongs to the book, ‘Brief Biographies of Ancient Thinkers and Writers‘ by Menonim Menonimus.
Books of Biography by M. Menonimus:
- The World Writers-Brief Biographies
- Introduction to World Writers
- Introduction to World Personalities
- Love of Reputed Persons ..
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