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Suicide Triggers Described by Herodotus.

Saxby Pridmore¹, Stephane Auchincloss¹, Jamshid Ahmadi²

¹Discipline of Psychiatry, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.

Iranian Journal of Psychiatry

|July 21, 2016

Summary

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Ancient Greek and Persian soldiers and commanders exhibited diverse suicide triggers beyond mental disorders, including guilt, honor, and altruism, over two millennia ago. This historical analysis reveals complex motivations for suicide in antiquity.

Area of Science:

Historical analysis of ancient warfare
Psychological and sociological study of suicide

Background:

Suicide among soldiers presents unique challenges for understanding motivations.
Historical accounts offer insights into past societal attitudes and behaviors.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the triggers of suicide among ancient Greek and Persian soldiers and commanders.
To analyze historical records for patterns and circumstances surrounding suicide in antiquity.

Main Methods:

Analysis of a new translation of 'Herodotus: The Histories' (2013).
Collection and collation of suicide accounts, detailing circumstances, methods, and triggers.

Main Results:

Nine suicide accounts were identified, involving 8 named individuals (4 Greek, 4 Persian), mostly male.

Keywords:

Sociology Suicide Suicide Prevention

Related Experiment Videos

Triggers included guilt, avoidance of dishonor/punishment, and altruism, with only one case linked to mental disorder.

Cutting/stabbing was the most common method; others included hanging, jumping, poison, and burning.

Conclusions:

Suicide in ancient Greece and Persia was influenced by factors beyond mental disorders, such as burdensome circumstances.
This historical evidence indicates that a broader understanding of suicide triggers existed over two millennia ago.