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Philoctetes
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Philoctetes

play by Sophocles
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Article History
Greek:
Philoktētēs
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Philoctetes, play by Sophocles, first performed in 409 bce.

The play opens after the Troy-bound Greeks have cast away the title character on the desert island of Lemnos because of a foul-smelling and incurable ulcer on his foot. In the course of battle, the Greeks discover that they cannot defeat the Trojans without Philoctetes, who possesses the magic bow and arrow bequeathed to him by Heracles. A supernatural appearance by Heracles ultimately convinces Philoctetes to go to Troy to both win victory and be healed of his wound.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Kathleen Kuiper.