Sophocles

         Sophocles was the creator of  the memorable, suffering heroic characters ‑ Oedipus, Ajax, Philoctetes, Electra. 

He abandoned the trilogy, always presented three separate plays.  Suffering ‑ stergein ‑ pervades his plays, making his heroes/heroines somewhat godlike.

His family was wealthy and civic minded; he participated in civic leadership of Athens and was elected to the board of naval strategy. He was the favorite playwright of his own time, winning 18 first prizes and  more second place prizes at the Great Dionysia.