Athens in Sophocles’ Day

The City and the Man

When We Think of Athens…

Mars Hill, Athens

About Sophocles

• Born at Colonus, just outside Athens, somewhere around 496 BC• Was a well-to-do family, so he was given the proper education, incl

athletics and music• Lived a long life - died in 406 BC• Was active in public affairs - general at least once, and special

commissions• Known mainly as the most successful dramatist to present plays in

Dionysian Theater• Won first prize at the festival at age 28 over Aeschylus• Won first prize 18 more times• Sometimes won second prize (including Oedipus)• Wrote 123 plays• Only seven have come down to us complete

Ancient Athens

• City was crowded, dirty, and had apprx 300k population

• No running water, central heating, or artificial light

• Still, culture thrived, and European philosophy, history, drama, architecture, and sculpture all emerged from the fifth century BC

So … Why so much remarkable cultural action?

Defeat of the Persians Causes Cultural Pride

• Greeks in early firth century BC were considered weak

• Early in the century, the Greeks defeated a large-scale attack by the Persian Empire

• A new patriotic awakening of sorts occurred - they were inspired by heroes and their own potential

Athenian Government

• Athenian gov’t was based on a democracy, the first in history

• Democracy encouraged/demanded freedom of thought, which in turn fostered new ideas, action, achievement

• Their democracy involved all citizens; all expected to participate/debate

• How did it work? Democratic rights only extended to men, and not slaves

• Slaves did most of the hard labor such as silver mining• Slaves' rights were strong, however - not allowed to strike

one (problem b/c slaves and citizens dressed alike)

The Polis (City-State)

• The polis was more than just a government – it was a way of life

• Like a large family – a man was expected to serve his state with utmost devotion

• The king was expected to show even more devotion, to be more zealous of personal glory than other men

Function of the Citizen

• The small free population was expected to take an active role in public affairs than we do today

• Citizen acted in person rather than through representatives and senators

• Same in court of law - he stated his own case before a jury of his fellow citizens

Greek View of the Self

• The Greek is concerned about himself and his place in the universe

• Sees value in himself as an individual – concerned about his honor

• Expectation to be great – when this was achieved there was enthusiasm to share

Greeks and Modesty

• Modesty is not considered sensible – need a realistic sense of one’s own worth; thus Oedipus accepts acclaim and recognizes his own

• The purpose for a man’s being virtuous is not for some solitary inner feeling – but for the praise of the people of his Polis (city-state)

• Desires his name to live for generations