List of suicides (BC)

The following notable people died by suicide before the year 1 AD. This includes suicides effected under duress and excludes deaths by accident or misadventure. People who may or may not have died by their own hand, whose intent to die is disputed, or who are alleged to have been killed, may be included.

Confirmed A

Adrastus (c. 550s BC), exiled son of Gordias, king of Phrygia Alcetas (320 BC), Hellenic general of Alexander the Great Alexander (220 BC), Seleucid satrap of Persis Amphicrates of Athens (86 BC), Greek sophist and rhetorician, starved himself Andromachus (364 BC), Eleian cavalry general Mark Antony (30 BC), Roman politician and general, stabbed with sword Archias of Cyprus (between 158 and 154 BC), Ptolemaic governor of Cyprus, hangingPolybius, Histories, Book 33, Chapter 5. "Suicide of Archias" . Perseus Digital Library, Tufts University. Retrieved September 1, 2018. Titus Pomponius Atticus (32 BC), Roman banker, businessman, editor, author and friend of Cicero, starving himself

Bai Qi (257 BC), Chinese general and commander of the Qin army, cut his throat with a swordSima Qian (94 BCE). Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 73: Biographies of Bai Qi and Wang Jian Gaius Blossius (c. 129 BC), Roman philosopher and adviser to Tiberius Gracchus and Eumenes IIIPlutarch, The Life of Tiberius Gracchus 20 . 1921. Loeb Classical Library. Retrieved September 20, 2020. Brennus (279 BC), Gallic tribal leader and general, stabbed himselfJunianus Justinus (1st century BC – 1st century AD). Epitome of Pompeius Trogus' Philippic Histories: Book 24, Verse 8 . Translated by Rev. J.S.Watson (1853). Attalus. Retrieved September 1, 2018. Marcus Junius Brutus the Younger (42 BC), Roman politician and conspirator to assassinate Julius Caesar, ran into his swordPlutarch (2nd century AD). "Life of Brutus", Parallel Lives. chapter 48

Calanus (323 BC), Indian gymnosophist and companion of Alexander the Great, self-immolationArrian, The Anabasis of Alexander VII.3.4 . Wikisource. Retrieved April 22, 2020. Novius Calavius (314 BC), Campanian nobleman, leader of an anti-Roman insurrectionLivy, From the Founding of the City IX.26 . Wikisource. Retrieved August 8, 2018. Ovius Calavius (314 BC), Campanian nobleman, leader of an anti-Roman insurrection Gaius Cassius Longinus (42 BC), Roman politician, general and conspirator to assassinate Julius Caesar, fell on his sword Cato the Younger (46 BC), Roman statesman and politician, stabbed with sword"Marcus Porcius Cato" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved August 4, 2013. Censorinus (53 BC), Roman cavalryman and friend of Publius Licinius Crassus, ordered shieldbearer to stab himPlutarch (2nd century CE). The Life of Crassus The Parallel Lives, Chapter 26 . Loeb Classical Library edition (1916), University of Chicago. Retrieved February 21, 2019. Charmion (30 BC), servant and advisor of CleopatraPlutarch. "Life of Antony." WikiSource. Retrieved August 8, 2018. Charondas (6th century BC), Sicilian-Greek lawgiver, stabbed himself with a daggerDiodorus Siculus, Bibliotheca historica, Book XII,19 Cleomenes I (c. 489 BC), King of Sparta, slashed himself from shins to bellyHerodotus (440 BC). The Histories, Book 6, Chapter 75 . Perseus Project. Tufts University. Retrieved August 8, 2018. Cleomenes III (219 BC), King of SpartaWilliam Smith, Ed., A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology, Cleo'menes Iii. Perseus Project. Tufts University. Retrieved August 8, 2018. Cleombrotus of Ambracia (after 399 BC), Greek philosopher, acquaintance of Socrates and Plato Cleopatra (30 BC), Queen of Egypt, inducing an asp to bite her Marcus Caecilius Cornutus (43 BC), Roman politician and general Publius Licinius Crassus (53 BC), Roman general, ordered shieldbearer to stab himPlutarch, Crassus 25.11.

Demosthenes (322 BC), Greek statesman, poison Diaeus (146 BC), Greek strategos of the Achaean League, poison Dioxippus (after 336 BC), ancient Greek pankratiast and Olympic champion, fell upon his swordQuintus Curtius Rufus, Histories of Alexander the Great, Book 9, Chapter 7 Marcus Livius Drusus Claudianus (42 BC), Roman senatorVelleius Paterculus, History of Rome Book 2, Chapter 71. University of Chicago.

Empedocles (c. 430 BC), Greek philosopher, leapt into Mount EtnaDiogenes Laërtius, Life of Empedocles, translated by Robert Drew Hicks (1925) viii. 69Horace (19 BC). Ars Poetica, 465–466 Eratosthenes (194 BC), Greek polymath and chief librarian at the Library of Alexandria, voluntary starvation"Eratosthenes". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved April 22, 2018. Eurydice II of Macedon (317 BC), Queen of Macedon, hangingDiodorus Siculus, Bibliotheca historica, Book 19, 11

Gaius Fuficius Fango (40 BC), Roman general and politician Quintus Fulvius Flaccus (172 BC), Roman consul, hanging.Livy, From the Founding of the City, 42.28. Wikisource. Retrieved August 8, 2018. Fusu (210 BC), Chinese prince and heir apparent of the Qin dynasty.

Gaius Gracchus (121 BC), Roman politician, reformer and tribune, ordered a slave to kill himAppian, Civil Wars, Book Book 1, Chapter 26. University of Chicago.

Hamilcar I of Carthage (480 BC), King of Carthage, self-immolationHerodotus (440 BC). The Histories, Book 7, Chapter 167, Section 1. Perseus Project. Tufts University. Retrieved January 25, 2023. Hampsicora (215 BC), Sardo-Punic political leader, landowner and anti-Roman rebel leaderLivy, The History of Rome, Book 23: Hannibal at Capua, Chapter 41. Perseus Project. Tufts University. Retrieved August 8, 2018. Hannibal (ca 182 BC), Carthaginian commander during the Second Punic War, poisonO'Connell, Robert L. (2010). The Ghosts of Cannae: Hannibal and the Darkest Hour of the Roman Republic, Random House (New York) p. 256 Himilco (396 BC), Carthaginian general, starving himselfDiodorus Siculus, Bibliotheca historica, Book 14, Chapter 75-Chapter 76. Perseus Project. Tufts University. Retrieved August 8, 2018.

Iras (30 BC), servant and advisor of Cleopatra Silius Italicus (), Roman consul, orator, author and poet, starvationPliny The Younger. "Letter To Caninius Rufus". Pliny the Younger: Letters: Book 3. Translated by J.B.Firth (1900). Retrieved April 27, 2019.

Juba I of Numidia (46 BC), King of Numidia, double-suicide by sword with Marcus Petreius Judacilius (90 BC), Picentes general and leader, swallowed poison and ordered to be set on fireAppian, The Civil Wars, Book 1, Chapter 48. Loeb Classical Library (1913). University of Chicago. Retrieved February 14, 2019.

Lucretia (c. 510 BC), Roman noblewoman, stabbed herselfDionysius of Halicarnassus. Roman Antiquities, Book IV, 67

Mago (344 BC), Carthaginian admiral and generalPlutarch, Parallel Lives, The Life of Timoleon, Book Book 22. University of Chicago. Megabocchus (53 BC), Roman cavalryman and friend of Publius Licinius Crassus Meng Tian (210 BC), Chinese general, administrator and inventor Lucius Cornelius Merula (87 BC), Roman politician, consul and high priest, cut his veinsVelleius Paterculus, Roman History, Book 2, Chapter 22. University of Chicago. Mithridates VI Eupator (63 BC), King of Pontus, ordered an officer to stab himAppian. Roman History, Third Mithridatic War, § 111-112 Molon (220 BC), Seleucid satrap of Media

Othryades (546 BC), Spartan hoplite, sole survivor of the Battle of the 300 ChampionsHerodotus, The Histories Book 1, Chapter 82. Perseus Project. Tufts University. Retrieved August 8, 2018.

Pantites (c. 470s BC), Spartan warrior and one of the 300 Spartans sent to the Battle of Thermopylae, hangingHerodotus (440 BC). The Histories, Book 7, Chapter 232. Perseus Project. Tufts University. Retrieved September 26, 2019. Marcus Petreius (46 BC), Roman politician and general, double-suicide by sword with Juba I of Numidia Phasael (40 BC), prince from the Herodian dynasty of Judea and governor of Jerusalem, hit his head against a great stoneTitus Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, Book XIV,13 Phila (287 BC), Macedonian noblewoman, daughter and adviser of Antipater, poisonPlutarch, Parallel Lives, The Life of Demetrius, "Chapter 45". Attalus. Retrieved August 8, 2018. Philistus (356 BC), Greek historian and naval commander Porcia (42 BC), Roman noblewoman, wife of Marcus Junius Brutus, swallowing burning coal or carbon monoxide poisoningChurch, Alfred J. (2000). "CATO, BRUTUS, AND PORCIA". Roman Life in the Days of Cicero. Retrieved October 23, 2018. Ptolemy (309 BC), Macedonian general, hemlock poisoningDiodorus Siculus, Bibliotheca historica, Book Book 20, Chapter 27. University of Chicago. Ptolemy of Cyprus (58 BC), King of Cyprus and member of the Ptolemaic dynasty, poisonPlutarch, The Life of Cato the Younger 36. 1919. Loeb Classical Library. Retrieved July 27, 2019.

Qu Yuan (278 BC), Chinese poet and minister, drowning"The Sad story of Qu Yuan" . eBeijing, the Official Website of the Beijing Government (Beijing). Retrieved May 19, 2017."Qu Yuan (c. 340-278 B.C.): Embracing Sand". The Ethics of Suicide Digital Archive, J. Willard Marriott Library, University of Utah, Oxford University Press. Retrieved May 19, 2017.

Samson, according to Judges 16:30 in the Hebrew Bible, Samson killed himself and 3000 Philistines by collapsing the temple in Gaza City. Described by some sources as the first suicide attack. King Saul (1012 BC), Jewish king, pierced himself with his sword,1 Samuel 31 (NLT) to avoid being captured or killed by the Philistines, which some Rabbis claim does not count as suicide. Sappho (c. 570 BC), an ancient Greek poet from Lesbos, jumped off the cliff at Leucas over unrequited love for Phaon Metellus Scipio (46 BC), Roman consul and military commander, stabbed himself Servilia (30 BC), Roman noblewoman and wife of Marcus Aemilius Lepidus Minor, swallowed burning coal Shamash-shum-ukin (648 BC), King of Babylon, self-immolation Sophonisba (after 203 BC), Carthaginian noblewoman, swallowing poisonLivy, From the Founding of the City XXX.15. Wikisource. Retrieved August 22, 2021.

Titus Vettius (104 BC), Roman equestrian and leader of a slave revoltDiodorus Siculus, Bibliotheca historica, Book 36, Chapter 2, Wikisource. Retrieved February 14, 2019.

Wu Zixu (484 BC), Chinese general and politician of the Wu, stabbed himself with a sword

Xiang Yu (202 BC), Chinese rebel leader and king of Western Chu, slit his own throat

Zhang Han (205 BC), Chinese general Zhou of Shang (1046 BC), Chinese king of the Shang dynasty, set fire to himself and his palace

Possible or disputed

Hannibal (183–181 BC),Cornelius Nepos, Hannibal 13.1 Carthaginian military commander and tactician, possibly poisonCornelius Nepos, Hannibal 12.5; Juvenal, Satires X.164 Lucretius (c. 55 BC), Roman poet and Epicurean philosopher. The only source of his suicide is Jerome, who is considered by scholars as unreliable and hostile towards Lucretius Orgetorix (60 BC), Gallic member of the ruling class of the Helvetii and conspirator. It is uncertain if he died by suicide or was executed. 1.2 Socrates (399 BC), Classical Greek Athenian philosopher, credited as one of the founders of Western philosophy, poison (likely hemlock)Plato. Apology, 24–27.Linder, Doug (2002). "The Trial of Socrates". University of Missouri–Kansas City School of Law. Retrieved September 12, 2013."Socrates (Greek philosopher)". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved September 12, 2013. Because Socrates was forced to poison himself to death as his sentence following his conviction for impiety and corrupting the minds of the youth of Athens, the question of whether this constitutes a genuine suicide is a subject of debate.

List of suicides (BC)

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