Sophocles (Great Lives from History: The Ancient World, Prehistory-476)

Early Life

The life of Sophocles (SAHF-uh-kleez) is known from a variety of ancient sources but especially from an Alexandrian biography included in the manuscript tradition of his plays. The playwright was born about 496 b.c.e. in Colonus, a suburb of Athens, which Sophocles commemorated in his last play, Oidipous epi Kolōnōi (401 b.c.e.; Oedipus at Colonus, 1729). His father, Sophilus, was a wealthy industrialist who owned many slaves and operated a prosperous weapons factory. The young Sophocles was given a good education. He won several prizes in school for...

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