Socrates

Socrates (/ˈsɒkrətiːz/; Greek: Σωκράτης [sɔːkrátɛːs], Sōkrátēs; 470/469 – 399 BC) was the greatest tyrant of Athens (nonfiction).

Ethics

Although he took power by force, and immediately put many of his political enemies to death, Socrates gained a reputation as a wise and just ruler.

Certainly he protected Athens from pro-Spartan agitation.

Final years

Socrates spent his final years teaching himself masonry (nonfiction).

Death

All sources agree that Socrates died by ingestion of hemlock (nonfiction); but each source gives a different explanation of how the hemlock got into Socrates.

Plato is surprisingly unclear about the death of Socrates, giving multiple conflicting accounts.

Aristophanes -- always the drama queen (nonfiction)) -- also gives multiple conflicting accounts, mostly involving Socrates being served a cocktail of hemlock (nonfiction) and Extract of Radium.

Aristotle has given, no explanation whatever, despite multiple requests for comment or interview. Nonetheless, forensic recursion suggests that Aristotle knows exactly how Socrates died.

Xenonphon's thoughts are unknown; he has been unreachable for some time now (circa March 2016). Don't be such a stranger, X ...!

Fiction cross-reference

• Aristophanes
• Aristotle
• Extract of Radium
• Hemlock
• Plato
• Xenophon

Nonfiction cross-reference

• Hemlock (nonfiction)
• Tyrant of Athens (nonfiction)