ABSTRACT
Sophocles, the second great tragedy writer of the fifth century Bc, achieved his first victory in 468 Bc. His work thus ran parallel to that of Aeschylus for over ten years. Euripides' first victory took place in 456 Bc, before the death of Aeschylus, the exact year of which is not known, and he died a year before Sophocles, in 406 Bc Ancient biographical legends illustrated this chronological concurrence, rather than succession, of the three ‘Greats’ with the aid of the Battle of Salamis — at which Aeschylus fought, and at the victory celebration of which Sophocles led the dance of youths, on the same day that Euripides was born.
