Who Was Alive
Aristarchus of Samos
Unknown artist (17th century), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Aristarchus of Samos

Greek astronomer

Born c. 310 BC · died c. 230 BC
Also known as Aristarchos of Samos

Who was alive at the same time as Aristarchus of Samos?

  1. Chanakya, 375–283 BC
  2. Mencius, c. 372 – c. 289 BC
  3. Theophrastus, c. 371 – 287 BC
  4. Zhuang Zhou, c. 369 – c. 288 BC
  5. Seleucus I Nicator, 358–281 BC
  6. Epicurus, 342–270 BC
  7. Chandragupta Maurya, 340–297 BC
  8. Zeno of Citium, c. 334 – 263 BC
  9. Pharnavaz I, 326–234 BC
  10. Pyrrhus of Epirus, 318–272 BC
  11. Aristarchus of Samos, c. 310 – c. 230 BC
  12. Ptolemy II Philadelphus, 308–246 BC
  13. Ashoka, 304–232 BC
  14. Apollonius of Rhodes, c. 293 – 215 BC
  15. Archimedes, c. 287 – 212 BC
  16. Han Fei, c. 280 – 233 BC
  17. Eratosthenes, 276–194 BC
  18. Apollonius of Perga, c. 262 – c. 190 BC
  19. Qin Shi Huang, 259–210 BC
  20. Emperor Gaozu of Han, 256–195 BC
  21. Plautus, 250–184 BC
  22. Hannibal, 247–183 BC
  23. Ennius, 239–169 BC
  24. Scipio Africanus, c. 235 – 183 BC

Drag across the timeline, or use the arrow keys, to see who was alive in any year and the age each person reached that year. Dashed lines mark world events. Faded ends mark uncertain dates.

Born during Aristarchus of Samos’s lifetime: Archimedes, Qin Shi Huang, Ashoka, Hannibal, Eratosthenes, Plautus, Apollonius of Perga and Scipio Africanus.

Not quite contemporaries: Aristotle died about 9 years before Aristarchus of Samos was born, Alexander the Great died about 10 years before Aristarchus of Samos was born, Diogenes died about 8 years before Aristarchus of Samos was born and Demosthenes died about 9 years before Aristarchus of Samos was born.

Where Aristarchus of Samos’s contemporaries were born

Aristarchus of Samos is labelled; the others are the best-known people we track who lived at the same time. Each dot is a birthplace from Wikidata (53 of 64 placed); tap one to open that person.
Birthplaces as a list

Compare Aristarchus of Samos

The 63 best-known contemporaries

63 of the people we track were surely alive at the same time as Aristarchus of Samos. All of them are listed here. See also everyone alive in 270 BC.

  1. Archimedes c. 287 – 212 BC
  2. Qin Shi Huang 259–210 BC
  3. Ashoka 304–232 BC
  4. Epicurus 342–270 BC
  5. Chanakya 375–283 BC
  6. Hannibal 247–183 BC
  7. Eratosthenes 276–194 BC
  8. Mencius c. 372 – c. 289 BC
  9. Plautus 250–184 BC
  10. Theophrastus c. 371 – 287 BC
  11. Zhuang Zhou c. 369 – c. 288 BC
  12. Zeno of Citium c. 334 – 263 BC
  13. Chandragupta Maurya 340–297 BC
  14. Pyrrhus of Epirus 318–272 BC
  15. Apollonius of Perga c. 262 – c. 190 BC
  16. Scipio Africanus c. 235 – 183 BC
  17. Seleucus I Nicator 358–281 BC
  18. Han Fei c. 280 – 233 BC
  19. Ennius 239–169 BC
  20. Emperor Gaozu of Han 256–195 BC
  21. Ptolemy II Philadelphus 308–246 BC
  22. Pharnavaz I 326–234 BC
  23. Apollonius of Rhodes c. 293 – 215 BC
  24. Antiochus III the Great c. 242 – 187 BC
  25. Qu Yuan 343–278 BC
  26. Pytheas c. 359 – c. 289 BC
  27. Livius Andronicus c. 280 – c. 200 BC
  28. Hamilcar Barca 275–228 BC
  29. Chrysippus 281–208 BC
  30. Ptolemy III Euergetes 284–222 BC
  31. Apelles 370–306 BC
  32. Bindusara 320–273 BC
  33. Ptolemy IV Philopator 244–204 BC
  34. Antigonus I Monophthalmus 382–301 BC
  35. Antiochus I Soter c. 324 – c. 262 BC
  36. Li Si 280–208 BC
  37. Lysippos c. 390 – c. 300 BC
  38. Lysimachus c. 357 – 281 BC
  39. Cleanthes 331–232 BC
  40. Aratus c. 315 – c. 240 BC
  41. Antiochus II Theos 286 – c. 247 BC
  42. Gnaeus Naevius 275–201 BC
  43. Aristoxenus c. 360 – c. 300 BC
  44. Agathocles of Syracuse 361–289 BC
  45. Cassander 355–296 BC
  46. Demetrius of Phalerum 350–283 BC
  47. Seleucus II Callinicus 265–225 BC
  48. Masinissa 238 – c. 149 BC
  49. Demetrius I Poliorcetes c. 337 – 283 BC
  50. Arsinoe II 316 – c. 269 BC
  51. Arcesilaus 315–240 BC
  52. Philip V of Macedon 238–179 BC
  53. Modu Chanyu 234–174 BC
  54. Hiero II of Syracuse 308–215 BC
  55. Ctesibius c. 284 – c. 221 BC
  56. Attalus I 269–197 BC
  57. Hasdrubal Barca 245–207 BC
  58. Seleucus III Ceraunus 243–223 BC
  59. Strato of Lampsacus c. 335 – c. 269 BC
  60. Herophilos 335–280 BC
  61. Berenice II c. 266 – 221 BC
  62. Nearchus 356–300 BC
  63. Hasdrubal the Fair 270–221 BC