Sophocles

Sophocles (c. 496–406 BCE) was an ancient Greek tragedian of classical Athens and one of the three great playwrights of Athenian drama. He wrote for the dramatic festivals of Athens and was celebrated in his lifetime for his skill in shaping character and plot. Ancient sources credit him with composing more than 120 plays, though only seven tragedies survive complete. Among his best-known works are *Oedipus Rex*, *Antigone*, and *Electra*, which explore fate, moral responsibility, and the tensions between individual conscience and civic authority. His plays remained influential in antiquity and continue to be widely read and performed today.