Sophocles

This is a life-size imaginary portrait formerly thought to represent Homer, but now more plausibly identified as Sophocles. Made in Greece in the 3rd century BC, the bronze was brought from Constantinople in the early 17th century for the collection ofThomas Howard, Earl of Arundel. Moulded from the original in the Department of Greek and Roman Antiquities. Sophocles was born in Athens in 496 BC and lived there until his death in 405 BC. He hoped originally to become an actor, but his voice lackedthe strength the Athenian theatre required and he turned instead to writing plays. He wrote over 100 works for the theatre. Most of these were satirical works. In 468 BC he won a dramatic competition, beating the great Aeschylus who had been victoriousfor the previous thirteen years. Sophocles' major works include Electra, Antigone, and his masterpiece Oedipus Tyrannus. This bust, carved in marble, is a Roman copy of a lost Greek original.