Philoctetes
by Sophocles
Philoctetes is a tragedy by Sophocles, first performed at the City Dionysia in Athens in 409 BC, where it won first prize. Odysseus and Neoptolemus sail to Lemnos to fetch the abandoned archer Philoctetes and the bow of Heracles. Seamus Heaney adapted it as The Cure at Troy.
- Editions tracked
- 1
Which edition do you have?
Editions
- excudit Jos. Pote1785 Hardback I own Sophokleous Philoktētēs, excudit Jos. Pote 1785 Log in to want this
We have not yet researched the issue points for this book. If you know how to tell the first from later printings, tell us and we will credit you once it is checked against a second source.
Awards, adaptations and setting
Adaptations
- Die schönsten Sagen des klassischen Altertums adaptation, 1838
- The Cure at Troy adaptation
Setting and characters
- Set in
- Lemnos
- Characters
- Philoctetes, Odysseus, Neoptolemus, Heracles
- Genre
- Greek tragedy
In print
- Editions recorded
- 50 on Open Library, 19 in English
- Wikipedia
- Articles in 27 languages
From Wikidata and Open Library, both CC0. A prize or a new adaptation often lifts demand for the first printing.
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How to Identify a First Edition
To identify a first edition, check that your copy is the first printing of the first edition. Read the copyright …
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For most books published since the 1920s, the original dust jacket carries a large share of the value, often most …
Read the guide →Frequently asked questions
How many editions of Philoctetes are there?
We track 1 edition of Philoctetes. Each has its own page with how to identify it.
Has Philoctetes been adapted?
Yes, including The Cure at Troy (adaptation), Die schönsten Sagen des klassischen Altertums (adaptation, 1838), according to Wikidata.
When was Philoctetes first published?
Philoctetes by Sophocles was first published in 1785.
Where these facts come from
- Philoctetes (Sophocles play), Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)
- Philoctetes (Q1415903), Wikidata (wikidata.org)
Every fact on this page was checked against the sources listed. Checked 22 October 2026. Reviewed by Harriet Ellis; read how we check facts.