Sophocles and His Works

Sophocles 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.

Of all the surviving plays, the tragedies of the Oedipus Trilogy - Oedipus the King, Oedipus at Colonus, and Antigone - are the best known and most often produced. Although all three plays are part of the same story, Sophocles did not create them to be performed as a single theatrical production.

Sophocles is thought to have written over 100 plays, but only seven fully survive today: Ajax, Antigone, Trachinian Women, Oedipus the King, Electra, Philoctetes, and Oedipus at Colonus.