Sòfocles

This name derives from the Ancient Greek “Sophoklễs (Σοφοκλῆς),” composed of two elements: “sophós (σοφός)” (shrewd, skillful, cunning, able, intelligent, wise, prudent) plus “kléos (κλέος)” (rumor, report, good report, fame, glory). In turn, the name means “famous for wisdom, wise and glorious.” Sophocles is one of three ancient Greek tragedians whose plays have survived. His first plays were written later than those of Aeschylus, and earlier than or contemporary with those of Euripides. According to the Suda, a 10th-century encyclopedia, Sophocles wrote 123 plays during his life. Still, only seven have survived in a complete form: Ajax, Antigone, The Women of Trachis, Oedipus the King, Electra, Philoctetes and Oedipus at Colonus.