Sophocles was an ancient Greek tragedian who lived during the 5th century BCE, from approximately 497 to 406 BCE. He was born near Athens and lived through the city's cultural and political peak. In addition to being a playwright, he was active in Athenian public life, serving as a treasurer and a military general. He was also associated with religious cults in the city.

He was one of the three great masters of Athenian tragedy, alongside Aeschylus and Euripides. His career was highly successful; he won first prize at the major dramatic festival in Athens at least 18 times. Ancient sources claim he wrote over 120 plays, but only seven complete tragedies survive today. These are Ajax, Antigone, Women of Trachis, Oedipus Rex, Electra, Philoctetes, and Oedipus at Colonus. A satyr play called The Trackers also survives in fragments.

Modern scholars credit Sophocles with important innovations in theater. He is said to have introduced a third speaking actor to the stage, which allowed for more complex scenes and character interactions. He also increased the size of the chorus and is associated with early uses of stage scenery. His plays are noted for their focus on heroic individuals, intricate plots, and powerful dramatic irony. His works, especially the Theban plays about Oedipus and Antigone, have had a profound and lasting influence on Western literature, drama, and thought.