Sophocles – Complete Tragedies

Sophocles is regarded as one of the greatest playwrights in history and a master of Ancient Greek tragedy. His surviving plays explore timeless questions about justice, power, destiny, family, loyalty, and the limits of human knowledge. Rich in psychological depth and dramatic tension, they continue to be performed and studied throughout the world more than 2,400 years after they were written.

This collection brings together all seven surviving tragedies of Sophocles, each presented in its own volume.

• Antigone – Sophocles' most celebrated tragedy, portraying the conflict between personal conscience and the authority of the state.
• Oedipus Rex (Oedipus the King) – Perhaps the most famous tragedy ever written, following King Oedipus as he uncovers the shocking truth about his own identity and fate.
• Oedipus at Colonus – Sophocles' final masterpiece, depicting the last journey of the blind Oedipus and offering a moving reflection on exile, forgiveness, and redemption.
• Ajax – A powerful exploration of honour, pride, and the devastating consequences of humiliation after the Trojan War.
• Philoctetes – A profound meditation on suffering, integrity, deception, and moral choice during the final years of the Trojan War.
• Electra – A gripping drama of grief, revenge, and justice centered on Electra's determination to avenge her father, Agamemnon.
• Women of Trachis – The tragic story of Heracles' final days, revealing how love, jealousy, and misunderstanding can lead to catastrophe.

Together, these tragedies represent one of the highest achievements of world literature. Through unforgettable characters and enduring moral dilemmas, Sophocles examines the fragile balance between human freedom and divine will, making his works as compelling today as they were in Classical Athens.

About This Edition

This complete edition presents all seven surviving tragedies of Sophocles in seven volumes, allowing each play to be studied and appreciated individually.

Each volume includes:

• The original Ancient Greek text
• A Modern Greek translation on facing pages
• A scholarly introduction
• Detailed commentary and explanatory notes

Whether you are studying Ancient Greek literature, exploring Greek mythology, or discovering Sophocles for the first time, this edition combines philological accuracy with accessibility, making one of the greatest dramatic oeuvres in history available to modern readers.

About Sophocles

Sophocles (c. 497/496–406/405 BC) was one of the three great tragedians of Classical Athens, alongside Aeschylus and Euripides. Over the course of his career, he wrote more than 120 plays and won first prize at the dramatic festivals of Athens more often than any of his contemporaries. Although only seven of his tragedies survive, they are widely regarded as masterpieces of world literature.

Sophocles introduced important innovations to Greek drama, including a greater emphasis on character development, more complex plots, and the addition of a third actor, which allowed for richer dramatic interaction. His works explore justice, destiny, political power, family, and the human condition with extraordinary emotional depth.

Today, Sophocles remains one of the most widely read and frequently performed playwrights in the world. His tragedies continue to inspire theatre productions, philosophical debate, literary criticism, psychology, and modern adaptations across cultures.