Sophocles , the son of Sophillus , was a wealthy member of the rural community of Colonus Hippius in Attica , which would later become a setting for his plays , and was probably born there . Sophocles , the son of Sophilus , was a wealthy member of the rural deme ( small community ) of Colonus Hippius in Attica , which was to become a setting for one of his plays , and he was probably born there .