Iophon the Tragedian (Ἰοφῶν ὁ τραγῳδιοποιός)

Life Iophon was an Athenian tragic poet of the 5th century BCE and the son of Sophocles [1][2][3][4]. Ancient anecdote recounts that he brought a lawsuit against his aging father, alleging incompetence; Sophocles reportedly refuted the charge by reciting from his Oedipus at Colonus [1][2][3]. This story places Iophon’s activity around the time of Sophocles’ death in 406/5 BCE, and he is noted as a rival of Euripides [2].

Works Though his works are lost, Iophon was a productive author of approximately 50 plays who won at least one victory at the City Dionysia [1][2][3][4]. Known titles from fragments include Achilles, Bacchae, Dexamenus, Pentheus, and Telephus, along with a satyr play, The Birth of Apollo (Apollonos gonai) [2][4].

Significance Iophon was a significant tragedian in the generation following Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides. His Dionysian victory confirms his contemporary reputation, though ancient critics like Aristotle noted he did not equal his father’s stature [1][2]. His career exemplifies the competitive world of Athenian drama and the legacy of famous literary families.

Sources 1. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy: https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/sophocles/ 2. Perseus Digital Library, Smith's Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology: https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0104%3Aentry%3Diophon-bio-1 3. Encyclopædia Britannica: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Iophon 4. ToposText: https://topostext.org/people/1410