From intentional poisoning, being fed to lions to stoning to death, some of the methods of expiring in the past differ greatly from the common approaches of today. And while the average life expectancy of people living during the good ol ancient days wasn’t that old due to a lack of modern medicine, some ancient figures did manage to reach their 80s. In this article, you will learn interesting facts concerning well-known individuals that lived during ancient times.
Alexander the Great
Conquering most of the world that was known to him at the time, Alexander the Great earned a distinct reputation for becoming a well-respected military leader and successful in world conquests. While some legends state that Alexander was poisoned by medicine sent by Aristotle, it is unlikely that his former teacher retaliated after learning that the leader was upset with him for not being able to save the life of his male companion, Hephaestion. Upon further analysis of the fever that Alexander experienced before his death, it is believed that he may have suffered from a bacteria linked to a mosquito bite (like the West Nile Virus we know of). In the end, Alexander the Great was 33 years old when he died in 323 BC.
Archimedes
At the age of 75, the great mathematician named Archimedes died in 212 BC. Taking advantage of war that emerged in Syracuse, Italy, he was able to capitalize off of current circumstances. The creation of the catapult is attributed to Archimedes, who also constructed a weapon called ‘the claw,’ which was used to latch onto boats that came too close to the fortified walls of a city. The device caused the ships to capsize using the techniques and concepts of the lever, pulley, and screw. Other achievements of Archimedes include discovering the principles of buoyancy, which set the stage for the construction of large ships that didn’t sink. Years after this accomplishment, he was impaled by a spear when Roman soldiers took hold of the city and did not recognize who he was.
Constantine
In 325 AD, Constantine called for the Council of Nicaea and later earned the respect of the people as the Roman emperor who put an end to Christian persecution. His actions would lead to an organized system that included various branches and affiliations of Christian sects that still emerge in today’s society in some circles. Throughout his life, Constantine still believed in Roman deities and didn’t get baptized until he neared hi own death. He built a reputation for being a great military general that expanded his empire from Britain to the borders of Persia. In order to make sure he stayed in power, he created strict rules with harsh consequences for disobeying his word. Torture came to the poor if they were late in paying their taxes. In order to settle a bill, it was not uncommon to sell a daughter into prostitution during Constantine’s day. A woman that ran away from a lover was burned alive. Assisting the accused meant that molten lead was poured down the throat. At the age of 65, Constantine passed away in 337 AD from coronary disease.