Sophocles (469-399 B.C.)

TRAGOEDIAE OMNES, NUNC PRIMUM LATINAE AD VERBUM FACTAE, AC SCHOLIIS QUIBUSDAM ILLUSTRATAE

      Venice: Gio. Battista a Burgofranco, 1543. The First Edition of the Complete Tragedies to appear in a Latin translation. PrinterOs device at beginning and end, historiated and ornamental woodcut initials throughout. 8vo, contemporary blind-panelled calf over boards, roll-tooled border creating the panels on both covers, the spine with raised bands over thick cords, original ties. 187, [1] f. A very handsome copy, well preserved in original state with some expected age evidence to the sides of the covers, minimal refurbishment at the edges.. VERY RARE FIRST EDITION IN LATIN OF THE CORNERSTONE TEXTS OF WORLD THEATRE AND DRAMA. Translated by Ioanne Baptista Gabia Veronensi. The Greek text was first printed by Aldus Manutius in 1502, and it is very surprising that it was another 40 year before the text appeared in a language which made it accessible to most scholars, although separate editions of the Antigone and Electra had been published in translation. Sophocles has been called the father of Modern theatre and the Homer of tragedy.OAccording to Aristotle in the Poetics, Sophocles was an innovator in tragedy: he added a third to the previously accepted two actors, introduced Oscene paintingO, and increased the chorus from twelve to fifteen; he also abandoned the Aeschylean practice of writing trilogies on related events instead giving each play a self-contained plot....His characters were admired by Aristotle for being Olike ourselves only noblerO; his heroes and heroines are placed in circumstances in which they must act, and by their actions, which often have tragic consequences, they show their heroic stature. For Aristotle, Oedipus Rex represented Greek tragedy at its greatest.O - Howatson. No copies show in the open marketplace or at sale in many, many years.