Lesson 2, Current Events

What was happening when Antigone was created?

Antigone was written in 441 BC.This was known as "The Golden Age".  The Golden Age of Pericles after the end of the Persian wars. The Golden Age is the term used to denote the historical period in Ancient Greece lasting roughly from the end of the Persian Wars in 448 BC to either the death of Pericles 429 BC or the end of the Peloponnesian War in 404 BC. 

Was its creation influenced by any specific historical events?

441 BC Antigone was written and Sophocles was made a general that would lead the attack on Samos, who had been revolting against Athens since 440 BC. The cities and the allies of the opponents sparked a feud that led to the Peloponnesian War, which could have reflected the war that Sophocles writes about in Thebes, which is responsible for the death of Antigone's brothers. Also, philosophy was becoming popular, and the new views clashed with religious beliefs, which can also be found in the play, in which Antigone's religious beliefs for the Gods cause her to go against the King.

 The "Golden Age" ^