University of Virginia Library

According to the received tradition, (see Introd., p. lxiv.,) this tragedy takes its place as the poet's last work, and was not performed till his grandson, Sophocles, the son of Ariston, produced it after his death. On the conjectural grounds, (1.) that Theseus was intended to represent Pericles; and (2.) that the inroad of Creon upon Attic soil is the presage of war with Thebes, and pointed to the early events of the Peloponnesian war, the time of composition has been fixed at B.C. 431, or 420, while the passages, (919–937,) which speak in friendlier tone, have been looked upon as inserted after Thrasybulos had rescued Athens from the Thirty by the help of the Thebans.