The greatest philosopher in history was executed on April 27, 399 B.C. Socrates had accumulated many enemies over his 70 years of life. His Socratic Method sometimes humiliated Athenians by showing they were confused in their beliefs. In 404 B.C., Athens lost the Peloponnesian War. Sparta installed a government of tyrants which the Athenians subsequently overthrew and restored democracy. Socrates had not been supportive of the return of democracy. His association with Alcibiades and Crito tainted him because the two were notorious for being power-hungry. This made additional enemies. In 399, he was accused of corrupting the minds of Athenian youth. He was also charged with impiety. Some felt Socrates did not worship the state gods. He had state that the gods did not do anything bad. This clashed with Greek mythology. The jury of 501 listened to Socrates’ defense, which struck many as arrogant because he claimed to be a hero and he had no regrets. The jury voted 280-221 to convict. It was procedure to let the convicted suggest his punishment. Most of the jury who voted to convict were expecting him to ask for exile. Instead, Socrates, ever the gad-fly, proposed that his punishment be free food and housing for life. That was the last straw and the jury condemned his to death. The date was set at one month. Meanwhile, Socrates was allowed to have his followers see him in his cell. Several pointed out that the door was left unlocked and it would be easy for Socrates to escape (in fact, the government was probably hoping he would). But the philosopher insisted that the sentence was just. On the day, Socrates took a drink of hemlock. The poison worked slowly as his friends shed copious tears. His last words were: “Crito, we owe a cock to Asclepius: pay it and don’t forget.” (Asclepius was the god of healing and the ”cock” was a rooster. Socrates was referring to being cured of the disease of life.)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socrates#Trial_of_Socrates
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Socrates/The-legacy-of-Socrates
http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/socrates.htm
https://www.history.com/topics/ancient-history/socrates
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