Euripides

But only 32 complete plays survive, by just three playwrights – out of hundreds, or perhaps as many as 1,000 texts by around 80 authors.

Cyclops (412 or 408 BCE) – a satyr play describing Odysseus’ encounter with the Cyclops on his long return journey to Ithaca following the Trojan War. It is the only complete surviving satyr play from Greek theatre.

Who Was Euripides? Euripides was one of the best-known and most influential dramatists in classical Greek culture; of his 90 plays, 19 have survived. His most famous tragedies, which reinvent Greek myths and probe the darker side of human nature, include Medea, The Bacchae, Hippolytus, Alcestis and The Trojan Women.

Sophocles was one of the three great Greek tragedians. Of his eight plays (seven full, one fragmented) that remain today, his most famous is Oedipus the King (Oedipus Rex), which is known for its impressive construction and use of dramatic devices.

Medea, in Greek mythology, an enchantress who helped Jason, leader of the Argonauts, to obtain the Golden Fleece from her father, King Aeëtes of Colchis. She was of divine descent and had the gift of prophecy. She married Jason and used her magic powers and advice to help him.

Sophocles

His acquaintance with new ideas brought him restlessness rather than conviction, however, and his questioning attitude toward traditional Greek religion is reflected in some of his plays. Of Euripides’ private life, little can be said. Later tradition invented for him a spectacularly disastrous married life.

His works tackle the great contradictions in our nature and make him one of the few playwrights immune to the ravages of time. Dramas never change – only the cast.

Euripides was a Greek playwright (one who writes plays or dramas) whom Aristotle (384–322 B.C.E. )

Sophocles

Macedonia

Gela, Italy

Aeschylus

The name Sophocles is primarily a male name of Greek origin that means Clever, Smart. Ancient Greek name derived from the words Sophos, “Clever” and Kleos, “glory.” Sophocles, 5th-century poet, best known for his works Oedipus Rex and Antigone.

The qualities of a tragic hero are similar to the qualities exhibited by Oedipus. This means that the works of Sophocles exemplifies the works of Aristotle. According to Aristotle, the tragic hero should be consistent, good, and always be willing to do things appropriately. Tragic heroes should not be virtuous.

The answer already given is excellent, but I will take this in another direction: Oedipus Rex has a special place in our society particularly because it has given us, via Sigmund Freud, the term Oedipal complex and thus has become one of the most famous examples of a psychoanalytic reading of a play.

The four major qualities of Greek drama were that they were performed for special occasions (such as festivals), they were competitive (prizes were awarded for the best show), they were choral (singing was a large part of drama, and the chorus was all men, about 3 to 50 of them), and they were closely associated with …

There are four major types of drama: comedy, tragedy, tragicomedy, and melodrama.

In Greek theatre the actors all wore exaggerated masks to communicate character. These were made of wood or leather and amplified the voice so that actors could be heard in the immense Greek amphitheatres .