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Sophocles: Biography, Books & Where to Start

c. 497–406 BC · Colonus, near Athens · also known as Sophokles

Sophocles booksSophocles biographyOedipus the KingAntigoneElectraOedipus at ColonusSophokles

Who was Sophocles?

Sophocles wrote some 120 plays for the festivals of Athens, winning first prize more often than any rival; only seven survive. Oedipus the King, in which a king investigating a plague discovers he himself is the cause, was Aristotle’s model of the perfect tragedy, and Antigone, about a young woman who defies the king to bury her brother, still sparks debate about law and conscience.

Where to start

Begin with Antigone.

Sophocles’s books, in order

  1. Antigone (441 BC)
    Free at: Project Gutenberg · Standard Ebooks · LibriVox · Wikisource · Internet Archive · Open Library Find a free edition →
  2. Oedipus the King (429 BC) Read free →
  3. Electra (410 BC)
    Free at: Project Gutenberg · Standard Ebooks · LibriVox · Wikisource · Internet Archive · Open Library Find a free edition →
  4. Oedipus at Colonus (401 BC)
    Free at: Project Gutenberg · Standard Ebooks · LibriVox · Wikisource · Internet Archive · Open Library Find a free edition →

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More Greek & Roman authors

Homer · Aesop · Euripides · Herodotus · Plato · Aristotle · Virgil · Ovid · Marcus Aurelius

Frequently asked questions

Who was Sophocles?

Sophocles wrote some 120 plays for the festivals of Athens, winning first prize more often than any rival; only seven survive. Oedipus the King, in which a king investigating a plague discovers he himself is the cause, was Aristotle’s model of the perfect tragedy, and Antigone, about a young woman who defies the king to bury her brother, still sparks debate about law and conscience.

What is Sophocles’s most famous book?

Oedipus the King is usually considered Sophocles’s best-known work, followed by Antigone, Electra, Oedipus at Colonus.

Which Sophocles book should I read first?

Most readers start with Antigone.

Is it Sophocles or Sophokles?

Both refer to the same writer.

Can I read Sophocles’s books free online?

Yes — 1 of Sophocles’s books are free to read online in Pagine, the free e-reader and reading tracker.

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