Occupying the middle spot of the three great Greek tragic poets (between Aeschylus and Euripides), Sophocles was born in 496 B.C.E. in Kolonos/Athens, where he died in 406. He repeatedly held high state offices (e.g. strategist with Pericles in 440). Sophocles also introduced the third actor to the tragedy. 123 tragedies are attributed to him, of which unfortunately only 7 have been completely preserved. At the Dionysia he is said to have achieved 24 victories, which corresponds to 96 plays (tetralogies were presented).
