Sophocles

Family: Athenian · Role: general · First appears: Book 3 · Chapter 11 · Part 5

Sophocles was the son of Sostratides. In Book 3, Section 11, he and Eurymedon were designated to follow Pythodorus with the main Athenian force.

In Book 4, the Athenians sent Sophocles and Eurymedon toward Sicily with forty ships, after Pythodorus had gone ahead. A squall carried their fleet into Pylos; they later reached Corcyra and joined the townsmen’s expedition against the stronghold on Mount Istone. After its garrison surrendered, the generals held the prisoners at Ptychia under truce, but the treaty was voided when men were caught escaping, and the prisoners were handed over to the Corcyraeans. Upon arriving at Athens, Sophocles and Pythodorus were banished.

Relationship record

Life events

• Sophocles and Eurymedon were designated to follow Pythodorus with the main Athenian force.(Book 3 · Chapter 11 · Part 5)
  • With: Eurymedon
  • “One of the generals, Pythodorus, was accordingly sent out with a few ships; Sophocles, son of Sostratides, and Eurymedon, son of Thucles, being destined to follow with the main body.”
• The Athenians dispatched forty ships to Sicily under Eurymedon and Sophocles, while Pythodorus had already gone ahead.(Book 4 · Chapter 12 · Part 1 · 📍 Sicily)
  • With: Eurymedon Pythodorus
  • “Meanwhile the Athenians sent off the forty ships which they had been preparing to Sicily, with the remaining generals Eurymedon and Sophocles; their colleague Pythodorus having already preceded them thither.”
• Eurymedon and Sophocles’ fleet was carried into Pylos by a squall.(Book 4 · Chapter 12 · Part 1 · 📍 Pylos)
  • With: Eurymedon
  • “While they were making objections, a squall chanced to come on and carried the fleet into Pylos.”
• Eurymedon and Sophocles joined the Corcyraeans in taking the stronghold on Mount Istone.(Book 4 · Chapter 13 · Part 1 · 📍 Mount Istone)
  • With: Eurymedon
  • “While these events were going on, Eurymedon and Sophocles had put to sea with the Athenian fleet from Pylos on their way to Sicily and, arriving at Corcyra, joined the townsmen in an expedition against the party established on Mount Istone, who had crossed over, as I have mentioned, after the revolution and become masters of the country, to the great hurt of the inhabitants.”
• The stronghold's garrison surrendered under terms and was taken into Athenian custody.(Book 4 · Chapter 13 · Part 1 · 📍 Mount Istone)
  • With: Eurymedon
  • “Their stronghold having been taken by an attack, the garrison took refuge in a body upon some high ground and there capitulated, agreeing to give up their mercenary auxiliaries, lay down their arms, and commit themselves to the discretion of the Athenian people.”
• The generals transported the surrendered prisoners to Ptychia under truce, pending their transfer to Athens.(Book 4 · Chapter 13 · Part 1 · 📍 Ptychia)
  • With: Eurymedon
  • “The generals carried them across under truce to the island of Ptychia, to be kept in custody until they could be sent to Athens, upon the understanding that, if any were caught running away, all would lose the benefit of the treaty.”
• The prisoners were handed over to the Corcyraeans after men were caught escaping, voiding the treaty.(Book 4 · Chapter 13 · Part 1 · 📍 Corcyra)
  • With: Eurymedon
  • “These representations succeeding, it was so arranged that the men were caught sailing out in the boat that was provided, and the treaty became void accordingly, and the whole body were given up to the Corcyraeans.”
• The Corcyraeans killed the surrendered prisoners, while others died by suicide.(Book 4 · Chapter 13 · Part 1 · 📍 Corcyra)
  • With: Eurymedon
  • “At last, however, someone opened their eyes to the truth, upon which they called upon the Athenians to kill them themselves, if such was their pleasure, and refused any longer to go out of the building, and said they would do all they could to prevent any one coming in.”
• The Corcyraeans killed the prisoners and sold the captured women into slavery.(Book 4 · Chapter 13 · Part 1 · 📍 Corcyra)
  • With: Eurymedon
  • “When it was day the Corcyraeans threw them in layers upon wagons and carried them out of the city. All the women taken in the stronghold were sold as slaves.”
• The Athenians banished Pythodorus and Sophocles.(Book 4 · Chapter 13 · Part 3 · 📍 Athens)
  • With: athenians Pythodorus
  • “Upon their arrival at Athens, the Athenians banished Pythodorus and Sophocles”

Book 3 · Chapter 11 · Part 5

• parent: Sostratides “Sophocles, son of Sostratides”

Book 4 · Chapter 12 · Part 1

• with Pythodorus (Colleagues) “with the remaining generals Eurymedon and Sophocles; their colleague Pythodorus having already preceded them thither.”

Book 4 · Chapter 13 · Part 1

• with Eurymedon (Jointly commanded an expedition.) “While these events were going on, Eurymedon and Sophocles had put to sea with the Athenian fleet from Pylos on their way to Sicily and, arriving at Corcyra, joined the townsmen in an expedition against the party established on Mount Istone”

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Extracted from the original text of History of the Peloponnesian War. Made with Rho MD.