Sophocles · Zeno of Elea Were Sophocles and Zeno of Elea alive at the same time? Yes. Sophocles and Zeno of Elea were alive at the same time, from c. 490 BC to c. 425 BC. SophoclesAncient Greek playwrightBorn c. 496 BC · died c. 406 BCZeno of EleaGreek philosopherBorn c. 490 BC · died c. 425 BC ConfuciusAeschylusSophoclesZeno of EleaHerodotusSocratesHippocrates Sophocles and Zeno of Elea 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.