Why Did Socrates Drink Poison And Commit Suicide?
Ellen Lloyd - AncientPages.com - In 399 B.C., one of the greatest philosophers of all time, Socrates was sentenced to death. Socrates was a courageous man who stood up for what he believed in. He was offered a chance to live, but he chose death instead.
In a previous article published on Ancient Pages, we discussed why Socrates was such a brilliant mind and why his enigmatic personality and thoughts still continue to influence modern philosophers.
Left: Bust of Socrates carved by Victor Wager from a model by Paul Montford, University of Western Australia. Credit: Wikipedia Right: The Death of Socrates (399 BC): He drank the contents as though it was wine. Credit: Wikipedia
As much as the modern world admires Socrates today, he was not popular among many during his lifetime. Athens was a radical democracy that prided itself on freedom of speech. All that Socrates did was talk, and yet he was sentenced to death.
Socrates was accused of "refusing to recognize the gods recognized by the state" and of "corrupting the youth." In his book, Why Socrates Died: Dispelling the Myths, author Robin Waterfield offers a comprehensive study of what led to Socrates’ trial, death sentence, and interesting account of Athenian history.
At the time of the trial, Socrates was 70 years old. The trial took place in the heart of the city. A crowd of spectators watched how three Athenian citizens, who were Socrates' accusers, spent three hours presenting their arguments against the great philosopher. Socrates was then allowed to defend himself for three hours.
At the end of the trial, the jury convicted him by a narrow majority, and he was given the death penalty.
Interestingly, Socrates was given a choice he ignored. The jury gave him the opportunity to suggest his own punishment for his crimes against the city-state of Athens.
If Socrates had suggested exile, he could have lived. However, Socrates was a stubborn, sarcastic, and proud man who was not afraid of death. Socrates joked that he could be punished with free meals at the Prytaneum, the city’s sacred hearth. Then, he suggested that he could be fined a modest sum of money. The jury discussed the choices proposed by Socrates and decided he was going to receive the death sentence.
Socrates's friends, followers, and students encouraged the great philosopher to flee Athens, but he refused. He felt that he had a legal responsibility to Athens and that escaping was not an option.
So, Socrates was taken to the nearby jail where his sentence would be carried out. Athenian law prescribed death by drinking a cup of poison hemlock. Socrates drank the hemlock, was condemned at trial, and executed his death sentence.
The great philosopher never rejected his beliefs and chose death instead of living a life of shame as an exiled old man.
Updated on February 17, 2024
Written by Ellen Lloyd – AncientPages.com
Copyright © AncientPages.com All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or part without the express written permission of AncientPages.com
More From Ancient Pages
-
Magical Manuscripts With Thousands Of Ancient Spells Discovered In Germany
Archaeology | Aug 28, 2017
-
Vikings: Facts And History About The Tough Norse Seafaring People
Ancient History Facts | Mar 13, 2017
-
Pre-Columbian Americans Mastered Electricity – Ancient Inscription And Document Reveal Proof Of Advanced Ancient Technology
Ancient Technology | Feb 4, 2018
-
Ancient Irrigation System Could Boost Water Availability In Peru
Archaeology | Jun 26, 2019
-
Znojmo Catacombs – Huge Underground Labyrinth Under A Medieval City
Featured Stories | Jan 17, 2016
-
Ezekiel’s Secret Ancient Knowledge About Lost Worlds – Thought-Provoking Theory Examined
Featured Stories | May 3, 2019
-
Ghostly Appearance Of Weird Ancient City Suspended In The Sky Witnessed By Many People
Featured Stories | Jul 9, 2019
-
What Was The Extreme Ritual Of Sokushinbutsu?
Ancient Traditions And Customs | Jun 20, 2018
-
Mysterious Inca Citadel With Platforms, Passages And Walls Discovered In Peru’s Rainforest
Archaeology | Oct 15, 2017
-
Impressive Pyramid Of Kukulkan (El Castillo’) At Chichen Itza
Civilizations | Feb 7, 2017
-
World’s Oldest Known ‘True’ Saddle Discovered In East Asia
Archaeology | Dec 11, 2023
-
Pergamon – One Of ‘Seven Churches Of Asia’ With Great Library And Sophisticated Water Supply System
Civilizations | Jul 25, 2018
-
Vikings’ Hideouts, Harbours And Homes: How Norse Warriors Owed Their Success To Their Encampments
Featured Stories | Feb 17, 2023
-
Dinosaurs Were On The Up Before Asteroid Downfall – Study Finds
Archaeology | Dec 8, 2022
-
Trees Are Deeply Rooted In Beliefs And Cultural Traditions Of Ancient People Around The World
Featured Stories | Feb 18, 2018
-
Gashadokuro: A Terrifying Nocturnal Ghost Yokai With Voracious Appetite For Human Blood
Featured Stories | Jul 16, 2023
-
4,700 ‘Forest Islands’ Created By Amazon’s Earliest Humans
Archaeology | Apr 15, 2020
-
Will Archaeologists Uncover The Secrets Of A Rare Viking Ship Grave In Norway Before It’s Destroyed?
Archaeology | Nov 14, 2020
-
Scientists Explore How Neanderthals Caught Birds In Caves For Food
Archaeology | Sep 16, 2021
-
Restorations At Stratonicea Ancient City Of Gladiators In Turkish Muğla Province
Archaeology | May 10, 2023