Sophocles :: essays research papers

Sophocles was born in Colonus, near Athens, c.497 B.C. Sophocles father was a fuddled armorer named Sophillus. When he reached matureness he was already established as a great tragical playwright, and the citizens of Athens love him. He was nicknamed Attic-bee by the Athenians because he could take thoroughgoing(a) honey from words. Sophocles was born in Colonus, near Athens, c. 497 B.C. Sophocles father was a wealthy armorer named Sophillus. Sophocles had a good childhood. Sophocles, at age sixteen, led a boys chorus for the victory celebration over defeat of the Persians at Salamis. When he was twenty-eight, he beat Aeschylus in a dramatic contest. Already Sophocles was show true talent in play writing. At this time he also wrote poetry, none of which has been recovered. As a young man Sophocles was popular, handsome, a good athlete, and a great writer. When he reached adulthood he was already established as a great tragic playwright, and the citizens of Athens loved him. He w as nicknamed Attic-bee by the Athenians because he could take pure honey from words. Sophocles had numerous friends, one of which was the historian Herodotus. This friendship may be a solid ground that we know so much about Sophocles. After a ache and prosperous c areer, he died of old age in Athens at the age of ninety. Sophocles wrote 123 plays, and won 24 dramatic victories for Athens. Of his 123 plays, only seven are preserved in entirety. However, there still remains a immense portion of his satyr Ichbeutae that remains intact. His seven plays are Ajax, Antigone, Electra, Trachiniae, Philoctetes, Oedipus at Colonus, and Oedipus Rex. Sophocles went by dint of three artistic periods. The first, his earliest years, were influenced greatly by Aeschylus. Ajax was produced in this period. The molybdenum was in a "harsh, contrived" style. Antigone was produced during this period. He produced all his other plays in his mature years, or his third period.