Oedipus the Tyrant

He was born in the Attic deme of Colonus in 496 BC into a wealthy family. He was well-educated, and from childhood, he excelled in music and gymnastics competitions. During the Epinicia, following the Battle of Salamis, Sophocles led the paean in the procession.

With his tetralogy Triptolemus (his first appearance as a dramatic poet in 468 BC), and with Cimon and his fellow generals as judges, he defeated his teacher, Aeschylus. For ten years, these two tragic geniuses dominated the theater. Sophocles took an interest in political affairs and was honored by the Athenians. Following the presentation of Antigone, he was elected general in the war against the Samians (441–439 BC). In 443–442 BC, he was honored with other offices as well. He founded the sanctuary of Heracles the Herald and wrote and composed a paean dedicated to Asclepius.

According to the grammarian Aristophanes of Byzantium, Sophocles wrote 123 dramas, as well as elegies and paeans. In the Dramatic Contests throughout his life, he won more victories than both Aeschylus and Euripides. He died at the age of 90 in the autumn of 406 BC. Only seven of his tragedies have survived: Philoctetes, Antigone, Electra, The Trachinian Women, Ajax, Oedipus Rex, and Oedipus at Colonus.