<P> Sophocles ( / ˈsɒfəkliːz / ; Greek : Σοφοκλῆς , Sophoklēs , Ancient Greek : ( so. pho. klɛ̂ːs ) ; c. 497 / 6 -- winter 406 / 5 BC ) 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 . Sophocles wrote over 120 plays during the course of his life , but only seven have survived in a complete form : Ajax , Antigone , The Women of Trachis , Oedipus Rex , Electra , Philoctetes and Oedipus at Colonus . For almost 50 years , Sophocles was the most celebrated playwright in the dramatic competitions of the city - state of Athens that took place during the religious festivals of the Lenaea and the Dionysia . He competed in 30 competitions , won 24 , and was never judged lower than second place . Aeschylus won 13 competitions , and was sometimes defeated by Sophocles , while Euripides won 4 competitions . </P>
who wrote antigone and what are the dates of his birth and death
Sophocles c. 497 / 6 -- winter 406 / 5 BC