Secondary sourceDocument1911
Sophocles entry, Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th edition
1911
A 1911 Britannica article detailing Sophocles' life, family, and career as a tragic poet and general.
A detailed scholarly encyclopedia entry examining what can be verified about Sophocles' life and public career.
About this source
What it is
This entry on Sophocles appeared in the 11th edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica, published in 1911. It discusses his birth, family, and public career, including his role as a military general under Pericles.
Why it matters
This detailed article shows how early 20th-century scholars tried to separate verified history from legend, noting that his appointment as general during the Samian War was one of the best-documented facts of his life, alongside references to Pericles and the playwright Aristophanes.
Look closer
- Which facts does the author say are 'fully authenticated,' and which are called legend?
- Why does the article mention other figures like Pericles and Aristophanes?
- How does this entry's careful, cautious tone differ from more romanticized biographies?
This document is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Sophocles on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.
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