The documented history of philosophy is often said to begin with the notable death of Socrates. Since that time, there have been many other noteworthy deaths of philosophers. List 475 BCE - Neanthes of Cyzicus reported that Heraclitus died covered in dung after failing to cure himself of dropsy. 458 BCE – Zeno of Elea, according to Valerius Maximus, was tortured and killed by the tyrant Nearchus, after biting off the tyrant's ear. 435 BCE – According to legend, Empedocles leapt to his death into the crater of Etna. 420 BCE – According to some reports, Protagoras died in a shipwreck. 399 BCE – Socrates, condemned to death for corrupting the young, drank hemlock amongst his friends as described in Plato’s Phaedo. 348 BCE – Plato either died while being serenaded by a Thracian flute-playing girl, at a wedding feast, or in his sleep. 338 BCE – According to legend, Isocrates starved himself to death. 323 BCE – Accounts differ regarding the death of Diogenes of Sinope. He is alleged to have died from eating raw octopus, from being bitten by a dog, and from holding his breath. He left instructions for his corpse to be left outside the city walls as a feast for the animals and birds. 320 BCE – Ancient sources state that Nicocreon the tyrant had Anaxarchus pounded to death in a mortar with iron pestles; Anaxarchus is said to have made light of the punishment. 314 BCE – Xenocrates died when he hit his head after tripping over a bronze pot. 270 BCE – Epicurus died of kidney stones. 262 BCE – Zeno of Citium founder of the Stoic philosophical school tripped and broke his toe and then died from holding his breath. 212 BCE – Archimedes killed during the Siege of Syracuse by a Roman soldier despite orders that he should not be harmed. 207 BCE – Chrysippus is said to have died from laughter after giving wine to his donkey and seeing it attempt to eat figs. 52 BCE – Lucretius is alleged to have killed himself after being driven mad by taking a love potion. (Debated). 43 BCE – Cicero while leaving his villa in Formiae was beheaded by two killers, allegedly sent by Marcus Antonius. 65 CE – Seneca was forced to commit suicide after falling out with Emperor Nero. 415 – Hypatia was lynched by a mob of Christians. 430