Sensei
剣道家
- Nov 4, 2019
- 6,336
I'm a history buff and I've even written a couple of history books, and I'm suicidal and has thought much about the right to die at one's own terms, so I thought I'd have a look at suicide in one of my favourite eras, that of the Roman Empire.
It may come as a surprise, but the view on suicide was considerably more liberal in Roman society than in ours. It was not regarded as a crime or a sin and often seen as justifiable and rational. However incredible it may sound, it was basically sanctioned by the state too. A suicidal Roman could appeal to the Senate and receive hemlock if the reasons for suicide were deemed sound.
The many famous Romans who died by their own hand without being judged is as good evidence as any of the liberal view on suicide in the Roman Empire. A small sample:
• Marcus Junius Brutus, known as Brute in English. Reason: to avoid capture and disgrace. Method: sword held by two of his soldiers.
• Marcus Antonius, known as Mark Anthony in English. Reason: to avoid capture and disgrace. Method: sword. Almost botched the attempt and died in Cleopatra's arms.
• Marcus Porcius Cato Uticensis, better known as Cato the Younger. Reason: to avoid capture and disgrace. Method: sword. Botched the attempt and had to pull out his bowels to die.
• Seneca the Younger. Reason: forced suicide ordered by Nero. Method: severing of several veins and unknown poison, possibly hemlock. Drawn-out death.
• Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, better known as emperor Nero. Reason: to avoid a gruesome and humiliating execution. Method: ordered slave to kill him with a dagger.
• Marcus Otho Caesar Augustus, better known as emperor Otho. Reason: to avoid civil war. Method: dagger.
• Antonia Minor, better known as Antonia the Younger or simply Antonia. Reason: distraught by her son Caligula's insanity. Method: unknown poison, possibly hemlock.
• Euphrates the Stoic. Reason: old age and illness. Method: hemlock.
However, there were three groups of people who weren't allowed to commit suicide. All three of these exceptions were based on economic considerations.
• A person accused of a capital crime was not allowed to commit suicide and thus escape sentence and punishment, which often included confiscation of assets and property. If he, because it was usually a he, committed suicide anyway, his heirs were deprived of their heritage.
• A soldier was not allowed to commit suicide either as he received training from and served under the state. A soldier who did so was treated as a deserter; he was disgraced, and all of his belongings were confiscated. He was allowed and often even encouraged to commit suicide to avoid being taken prisoner by the enemy, though.
• Slaves were not allowed to commit suicide either as they were seen as property. If a slave did so within six months of being purchased, their master was entitled to a full refund from their previous master.
Back in those days, people obviously had a completely different mindset, but it's interesting that they were more pro-choice than people are today.
It may come as a surprise, but the view on suicide was considerably more liberal in Roman society than in ours. It was not regarded as a crime or a sin and often seen as justifiable and rational. However incredible it may sound, it was basically sanctioned by the state too. A suicidal Roman could appeal to the Senate and receive hemlock if the reasons for suicide were deemed sound.
The many famous Romans who died by their own hand without being judged is as good evidence as any of the liberal view on suicide in the Roman Empire. A small sample:
• Marcus Junius Brutus, known as Brute in English. Reason: to avoid capture and disgrace. Method: sword held by two of his soldiers.
• Marcus Antonius, known as Mark Anthony in English. Reason: to avoid capture and disgrace. Method: sword. Almost botched the attempt and died in Cleopatra's arms.
• Marcus Porcius Cato Uticensis, better known as Cato the Younger. Reason: to avoid capture and disgrace. Method: sword. Botched the attempt and had to pull out his bowels to die.
• Seneca the Younger. Reason: forced suicide ordered by Nero. Method: severing of several veins and unknown poison, possibly hemlock. Drawn-out death.
• Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, better known as emperor Nero. Reason: to avoid a gruesome and humiliating execution. Method: ordered slave to kill him with a dagger.
• Marcus Otho Caesar Augustus, better known as emperor Otho. Reason: to avoid civil war. Method: dagger.
• Antonia Minor, better known as Antonia the Younger or simply Antonia. Reason: distraught by her son Caligula's insanity. Method: unknown poison, possibly hemlock.
• Euphrates the Stoic. Reason: old age and illness. Method: hemlock.
However, there were three groups of people who weren't allowed to commit suicide. All three of these exceptions were based on economic considerations.
• A person accused of a capital crime was not allowed to commit suicide and thus escape sentence and punishment, which often included confiscation of assets and property. If he, because it was usually a he, committed suicide anyway, his heirs were deprived of their heritage.
• A soldier was not allowed to commit suicide either as he received training from and served under the state. A soldier who did so was treated as a deserter; he was disgraced, and all of his belongings were confiscated. He was allowed and often even encouraged to commit suicide to avoid being taken prisoner by the enemy, though.
• Slaves were not allowed to commit suicide either as they were seen as property. If a slave did so within six months of being purchased, their master was entitled to a full refund from their previous master.
Back in those days, people obviously had a completely different mindset, but it's interesting that they were more pro-choice than people are today.
