Suicide in antiquity
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Suicide was a widespread occurrence in antiquity across cultures. There were many different methods and reasons for committing suicide, and these vary across place and time. The origins of modern mora
Jacques-Louis David, The Death of Socrates, 1787
Pieter Bruegel the Elder, The Death of Saul (detail), 1562
Socrates
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Socrates was an ancient Greek philosopher from Classical Athens, perhaps the first Western moral philosopher, and a major inspiration on his student Plato, who largely founded the tradition of Western
Suicide in antiquity
…meanings of suicide, and many Greeks came to consider suicide a heroic act. A.D. Nock said, "there was a certain fascination about self-chosen death". Socrates concluded that "a man, who is one of the god's possessions, should not kill himself ‘until the god sends some compulsion upon him, as he sends compulsion…
A marble head of Socrates in the Louvre (copy of a lost bronze head by Lysippus)
Battle of Potidaea (432 BC): Athenians against Corinthians (detail). Scene of Socrates (center) saving Alcibiades. 18th century engraving. According to Plato, Socrates participated in the Battle of Potidaea, the retreat of Battle of Delium and the battle of Amphipolis (422 BC).
The Debate of Socrates and Aspasia by Nicolas-André Monsiau. Socrates's discussions were not limited to a small elite group; he engaged in dialogues with foreigners and with people from all social classes and of all genders.