From Autothanasia to Suicide: Self-killing in Classical Antiquity

by Anton J. L. van Hooff

Overview

Using almost a thousand case studies, both real and fictional, Dr van Hooff provides us with a unique and engaging insight into self-killing in the Graeco-Roman world.
The author analyses the methods and motives which lie behind self-killing relating them to ancient popular morality as it appears in the various media and traces the development of the concept of self-murder, as opposed to the original idea of autothanasia, which lies at the root of the Christian abhorrence of suicide.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780415513241
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	11/04/2011
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	332
Product dimensions:	5.44(w) x 8.50(h) x (d)

Table of Contents

Part I Phenomena of Self-Killing 1. CASUS MORIENDI 2. MODI MORIENDI 3. CAUSAE MORIENDI Part II Experience of self-killing 4. SUICIDE IN WORDS AND TEXTS 5. EXPERTS, LAW-GIVERS AND ARTISTS Part III Reflections on self-killing 6. PHILOSOPHERS AND THEOLOGIANS

Editorial Reviews

‘This bold attempt to set out all the attitudes to suicide attested in classical antiquity is an important contribution to the social history of the western world' - Classical Review Vol XLII

From the Publisher