Ancient World
19 figures from the Ancient World and their final words
Royalty & Nobility 323 BC
Alexander the Great
“To the strongest.”
Fever (possibly typhoid, poisoning, or malaria) Age 32
Military & Warriors c. 212 BC
Archimedes
“Do not disturb my circles!”
Killed by Roman soldier Age 75
Scientists & Inventors c. 212 BC
Archimedes
“Do not disturb my circles!”
Killed by Roman soldier Age 75
Artists & Writers 322 BC
Aristotle
“Unknown — he died in exile.”
Natural causes (digestive ailment) Age 62
Royalty & Nobility March 453
Attila the Hun
“Unknown — he was found dead on his wedding night.”
Nosebleed (hemorrhage) or possibly assassination Age 47
Royalty & Nobility 41 AD
Caligula
“I am still alive!”
Assassination (stabbed) Age 28
Royalty & Nobility 30 BC
Cleopatra
“Unknown — legend holds she allowed herself to be bitten by an asp.”
Suicide (possibly snake bite or poison) Age 39
Artists & Writers 479 BC
Confucius
“No intelligent monarch arises; there is not one in the kingdom that will make me his master. My time has co…”
Natural causes Age 72
Business & Tech c. 483 BC
Gautama Buddha
“All composite things decay. Strive diligently.”
Food poisoning or natural causes Age 80
Military & Warriors c. 183 BC
Hannibal Barca
“Let us now relieve the Romans of their fears, since it seems they think it long to wait for the death of an…”
Suicide by poison Age 64
Artists & Writers c. 700 BC
Homer
“No recorded last words. Homer is a semi-legendary figure.”
Unknown
Artists & Writers c. 33 AD
Jesus Christ
“Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.”
Crucifixion Age 33
Business & Tech c. 30 AD
Jesus of Nazareth
“Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.”
Crucifixion Age 33
Military & Warriors 44 BC
Julius Caesar
“Et tu, Brute? (And you, Brutus?)”
Assassination (23 stab wounds) Age 55
Royalty & Nobility 180 AD
Marcus Aurelius
“Go to the rising sun, for I am already setting.”
Plague — possibly smallpox Age 58
Military & Warriors 42 BC
Marcus Junius Brutus
“By all means must we fly; not with our feet, however, but with our hands.”
Suicide (fell on his sword) Age 43
Royalty & Nobility 68 AD
Nero
“Qualis artifex pereo! (What an artist dies in me!)”
Suicide (stabbed himself in the throat) Age 30
Artists & Writers 348 BC
Plato
“Unknown — accounts vary.”
Natural causes (died in his sleep) Age 80
Artists & Writers 399 BC
Socrates
“Crito, we owe a cock to Asclepius. Please, don't forget to pay the debt.”
Execution by hemlock poisoning Age 71