Sophocles · Empedocles Were Sophocles and Empedocles alive at the same time? Yes. Sophocles and Empedocles were alive at the same time, from c. 494 BC to c. 434 BC. SophoclesAncient Greek playwrightBorn c. 496 BC · died c. 406 BCEmpedocles5th century BC Greek philosopherBorn c. 494 BC · died c. 434 BC ConfuciusAeschylusSophoclesEmpedoclesHerodotusSocratesHippocrates Sophocles and Empedocles in bold, with some of their best-known contemporaries. Drag across to see the age each reached in any year. Faded ends mark uncertain dates.