These plays in this volume do not die they are merely reinterpreted. Sophoclean drama has proved to be as 'strong and ageless' as its immortal gods.

cannot overcome Thee, | Nor can the neverwearied | Years, but throughout | Time Thou art strong and ageless' (p. The chorus of Antigone praises Zeus' immortality: 'Sleep. Unlike the power held by Creon or Oedipus or Clytemnestra, the sovereignty of the gods is immune to time's passing. Time is the only conceptual benchmark by which Sophocles' mortals can fully understand their difference from divinity. Antigone dies, Oedipus the king becomes a blinded outcast, and Electra is reunited with her long-lost brother Orestes, who slaughters the incumbents of the Mycenaean throne. Within the stark temporal economy of these tragedies, whose actions commence at dawn and are consummated within a single day, human fortunes are completely overturned. Of Oedipus, so recently so fortunate, the chorus sings, 'Time sees all, and Time, in your despite, | Disclosed and punished your unnatural marriage' (p. CONTENTS Introduction Note on the Texts Select Bibliography Chronology ANTIGONE OEDIPUS THE KING ELECTRA Explanatory Notes ix xxxvii xxxix xliv 1 47 101 155 INTRODUCTION Time is a recurrent topic in Sophoclean tragedy. I would also like to record my heartfelt thanks to Linda Holt, Fiona Macintosh, Oliver Taplin, and especially Richard Poynder, for invaluable assistance of other kinds. My students at Reading made it quite clear to me what they would wish to find in an edited translation of Sophocles. John Betts, Nicholas Hammond, Christopher Robinson, Christopher Rowe, George Rowell, and Glynne Wickham all helped me to track down the history of the genesis and first performances of the translations. KITTO Edited with an Introduction and Notes by Edith Hall ISBN 0192835882 English translation © Oxford University Press 1962 Editorial material © Edith Hall 1994 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Several people have helped me in the preparation of this edition. SOPHOCLES ANTIGONE, OEDIPUS THE KING & ELECTRA Translated by H.

Antigone oedipus the king electra