Question

What was significant for Athens in the year 404 BCE? How were the events of 404 important for Socrates in 399? Why did Socrates refuse to escape his death sentence?

Answer 1

The siege of Athens (to 404 BC) was the final act of the Great Peloponnesian War, and confirmed the Spartan victory that had been made almost inevitable at the naval battle of Aegospotami in 405 BC. On a day in 399 BC the philosopher Socrates stood before a jury of 500 of his fellow Athenians accused of "refusing to recognize the gods recognized by the state" and of "corrupting the youth." If found guilty; his penalty could be death. The trial took place in the heart of the city, the jurors seated on wooden benches surrounded by a crowd of spectators. Socrates' accusers (three Athenian citizens) were allotted three hours to present their case, after which, the philosopher would have three hours to defend himself. The philosopher was taken to the near-by jail where his sentence would be carried out. In the time of the trial of Socrates, the year 399 BC, the city-state of Athens recently had perdured the trials and tribulations of Spartan hegemony, the thirteen-month régime of the Thirty Tyrants, imposed consequent to the Athenian defeat in the Peloponnesian War (431–404 BC).

Socrates denied his disciples' request of escaping death and eventually he had a calm death. However, he did not want to leave Athens even though he got the opportunity to escape his death since his guards were bribed by Socrates' well wishers. Also, he was an ardent follower of the law and respected the law wholeheartedly which is why he chose to die over escaping.