Epicurus · Ashoka Were Epicurus and Ashoka alive at the same time? Yes. Epicurus and Ashoka were alive at the same time, from 304 BC to 270 BC. Epicurus was 37 or 38 when Ashoka was born. EpicurusAncient Greek philosopherBorn 342 BC · died 270 BCAshokaMauryan emperor from 268 to 232 BCEBorn 304 BC · died 232 BC AristotleChanakyaAlexander the GreatEpicurusAshokaArchimedesQin Shi HuangHannibal Epicurus and Ashoka in bold, with some of their best-known contemporaries. Drag across to see the age each reached in any year. Faded ends mark uncertain dates.