Sophocles was a Greek playwright and one of the greatest tragedians of his time. He is known for his plays, which are characterized by their complex characters, intense psychological drama, and vivid poetic language. Sophocles wrote more than 120 plays during his lifetime, but only seven survive in their entirety today, including Oedipus Rex, Antigone, and Electra. He is considered to be one of the most influential figures in Western literature and has had a profound impact on the development of drama and theater. Sophocles was also a politician and held various public offices in Athens.