Sophocles'+Biography

 ·   Born in 496 B.C. in Athens, lived 90 years  ·   Childhood: educated in physical and intellectual discipline  o   Greece was making first experiments with democracy and popular government  ·   Manhood: service of state in art and public affairs  o   Athens had a free social life and culture, Sophocles contributed to its expression through theater  ·   Old age: treated with respect  o   Peloponnesian War; Greece was torn by war and ambitions for power  o   Sophocles died as the struggle was drawing to a close · Was a tragedian ·  Tragedies were presented in the Athenian theater at certain annual festivals, the principal one was held in the spring. ·  Dramatic performances were presented in an open-air theater that could accommodate 17,000 spectators. ·  Before a tragedy could be performed it had to go through the selection process.