263 BC

Centuries: 4th century BC - 3rd century BC - 2nd century BC Decades: 310s BC 300s BC 290s BC 280s BC 270s BC - 260s BC - 250s BC 240s BC 230s BC 220s BC 210s BC Years: 268 BC 267 BC 266 BC 265 BC 264 BC - 263 BC - 262 BC 261 BC 260 BC 259 BC 258 BC 263 BC - Events. First Punic War: The Roman consul Manius Valerius Messalla secures the alliance of Hiero II of Syracuse. Eumenes I succeeds his uncle Philetaerus as king of Pergamon. Including:

• 263 BC - Events
• 263 BC - Births
• 263 BC - Deaths

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The Attalid dynasty was a Greek dynasty that ruled the city of Pergamon after the death of Lysimachus, a general of Alexander the Great. One of Lysimachus' officers, Philetaerus, took control of the city in 282 BC. The later Attalids were descended from his father, and they expanded the city into a kingdom. Attalus I proclaimed himself King in the 230s BC, following his victories over the Gauls. The Attalids ruled Pergamon until Attalus III b ...

Including:

• Attalid dynasty - Dynasty of Pergamum
• Attalid dynasty - Genealogy
• Attalid dynasty - Reference

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Antigonus II Gonatas (c. 319 BC—239 BC) was a powerful ruler who definitely established the Antigonid dynasty in Macedonia and acquired fame for his victory over the Gauls who had invaded the Balkans. Antigonus II Gonatas - Birth and family. Antigonus Gonatas was born around 319 BC, probably in Gonnoi in Thessaly. He was related to the most powerful of the Diadochi (the generals of Alexander who divided the empire after his death in 323 BC). Antigonus's father was Demetrius Poliorcetes, who was the son of ...

Including:

• Antigonus II Gonatas - Birth and family
• Antigonus II Gonatas - Demetrius's general
• Antigonus II Gonatas - In the wilderness
• Antigonus II Gonatas - King of Macedonia
• Antigonus II Gonatas - Antigonus against Pyrrhus
• Antigonus II Gonatas - The Chremonidean war
• Antigonus II Gonatas - Antigonus against Aratus
• Antigonus II Gonatas - Death and Appraisal

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Centuries: 4th century BC - 3rd century BC - 2nd century BC Decades: 310s BC 300s BC 290s BC 280s BC 270s BC - 260s BC - 250s BC 240s BC 230s BC 220s BC 210s BC 271 BC 270 BC 269 BC 268 BC 267 BC 266 BC - 265 BC 264 BC 263 BC 262 BC 261 BC Births Deaths Mithridates I of Pontus (Founder of the Kingdom of Pontus) Events ...

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Centuries: 4th century BC - 3rd century BC - 2nd century BC Decades: 310s BC 300s BC 290s BC 280s BC 270s BC - 260s BC - 250s BC 240s BC 230s BC 220s BC 210s BC Years: 270 BC 269 BC 268 BC 267 BC 266 BC - 265 BC - 264 BC 263 BC 262 BC 261 BC 260 BC 265 BC - Events. Archimedes, Greek mathematician, develops screw, specific gravity Velzna, the last Etruscan city subdued by the Roman Republic Acrotatus succeeds his father Areus I as king of SpartaIncluding:

• 265 BC - Events
• 265 BC - Births
• 265 BC - Deaths

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Centuries: 4th century BC - 3rd century BC - 2nd century BC Decades: 310s BC 300s BC 290s BC 280s BC 270s BC - 260s BC - 250s BC 240s BC 230s BC 220s BC 210s BC Years: 265 BC 264 BC 263 BC 262 BC 261 BC - 260 BC - 259 BC 258 BC 257 BC 256 BC 255 BC Events Battle of Changping: the army of the Qin state routs the army of Zhao, establishing its military superiority over all other Chinese states. First Punic War: Battle of the Lipara Islands: A Roman naval force unde ...

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Ashoka the Great (Devanagari: अशोक; IAST transliteration: Aśoka) was the emperor of the Mauryan Empire from 273 BCE to 232 BCE. After a number of military conquests, Ashoka reigned over most of South Asia and beyond, from present-day Afghanistan to Bengal and as far south as Mysore. An early supporter of Buddhism, Ashoka established monuments marking several significant sites in the life of Shakyamuni Buddha, and according to Buddhist tradition was closely involved in t ...

Including:

• Ashoka - Historical sources
• Ashoka - Early life
• Ashoka - Rise to power
• Ashoka - Conversion to Buddhism
• Ashoka - Death and legacy
• Ashoka - Ashoka and Buddhist Kingship
• Ashoka - Ashoka in popular culture
• Ashoka - Sources

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Cyprus gained independence around 669/663. Cemeteries of this period are mainly rock-cut tombs. They have been found, among others, at Tamassos, Soloi, Patriki and Trachonas. The rock-cut 'Royal' tombs at Tamassos, built ca. 600 BC imitate wooden houses. The pillars show Phoenician influence. Some graves contain remains of horses and chariots. The main deity on the Island was the Great Goddess, Phoenician Astarte, later known under the Greek name of Aphrodite, who was called 'the Cypriote' by Homer. Paphian inscriptions call her the Q ...

See also:

Ancient history of Cyprus, Ancient history of Cyprus - Assyrian Period, Ancient history of Cyprus - The City-Kingdoms, Ancient history of Cyprus - Persian period, Ancient history of Cyprus - Hellenistic Period, Ancient history of Cyprus - Roman occupation, Ancient history of Cyprus - Christianization, Ancient history of Cyprus - Literature, Ancient history of Cyprus - Reference

Read more here: » Ancient history of Cyprus: Encyclopedia II - Ancient history of Cyprus - The City-Kingdoms

Antigonus II Gonatas - Antigonus against Pyrrhus. Pyrrhus, king of Epirus, Macedonia's Western neighbour, was a general of mercurial ability, widely renowned for his bravery, but he did not apply his talents sensibly and often snatched after vain hopes, so that Antigonus used to compare him to a dice player, who had excellent throws, but did not know how to use them. When the Gauls defeated Ptolemy Ceraunus and the Macedonian throne became vacant, Pyrrhus was occupied in his campaigns overseas. Hoping to conquer ...

See also:

Antigonus II Gonatas, Antigonus II Gonatas - Birth and family, Antigonus II Gonatas - Demetrius's general, Antigonus II Gonatas - In the wilderness, Antigonus II Gonatas - King of Macedonia, Antigonus II Gonatas - Antigonus against Pyrrhus, Antigonus II Gonatas - The Chremonidean war, Antigonus II Gonatas - Antigonus against Aratus, Antigonus II Gonatas - Death and Appraisal

Read more here: » Antigonus II Gonatas: Encyclopedia II - Antigonus II Gonatas - King of Macedonia

Rome won the First Punic War after 23 years of conflict and in the end replaced Carthage as the dominant naval power of the Mediterranean. In the aftermath of the war, both states were financially and demographically exhausted. To determine the final borders of their territories, they drew what they considered a straight line across the Mediterranean. Hispania, Corsica, Sardinia and Africa remained Carthaginian. All that was north of that line was signed over to Rome. Rome's victory was greatly influenced by its persistent refusal to admit d ...

See also:

First Punic War, First Punic War - Background, First Punic War - Land warfare, First Punic War - Naval warfare, First Punic War - Aftermath, First Punic War - Casualties, First Punic War - Peace terms, First Punic War - Political results, First Punic War - Notable leaders, First Punic War - Chronology

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Developing into an impeccable warrior general and a shrewd statesman, Ashoka went on to command several regiments of the Mauryan army. His growing popularity across the empire made his elder brothers wary of his chances of being favoured by Bindusara to become the next emperor. The eldest of them, Prince Susima, the traditional heir to the throne, persuaded Bindusara to send Ashoka to quell an uprising in the city of Taxila in the north-west province of Sindh, of which Prince Susima was the governor. Taxila was a highly volatile place becaus ...

See also:

Ashoka, Ashoka - Historical sources, Ashoka - Early life, Ashoka - Rise to power, Ashoka - Conversion to Buddhism, Ashoka - Death and legacy, Ashoka - Ashoka and Buddhist Kingship, Ashoka - Ashoka in popular culture, Ashoka - Sources

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Due to the difficulty of operating in Sicily, most warfare of the First Punic War was fought at sea, including the most decisive battles. Moreover, naval warfare permitted an efficient blockade of enemy ports, and consequently of reinforcement and supply for the inland troops. Both sides of the conflict had publicly funded fleets. This fact compromised Carthage and Rome's finances and eventually decided the course of the war. At the beginning of the First Punic War, Rome had virtually no experience in naval warfare, whereas Carthage h ...

See also:

First Punic War, First Punic War - Background, First Punic War - Land warfare, First Punic War - Naval warfare, First Punic War - Aftermath, First Punic War - Casualties, First Punic War - Peace terms, First Punic War - Political results, First Punic War - Notable leaders, First Punic War - Chronology

Read more here: » First Punic War: Encyclopedia II - First Punic War - Naval warfare

Cyprus became a Roman province in 58 BC, according to Strabo because Publius Clodius Pulcher held a grudge against Ptolemy and sent Marcus Cato to conquer the island after he had become tribune. Mark Antony gave the island to Cleopatra VII of Egypt and her sister Arsinoe, but it became a Roman province again after his defeat at the Battle of Actium (31 BC) in 30 BC. From 22 BC it was a senatorial province, after the re ...

See also:

Ancient history of Cyprus, Ancient history of Cyprus - Assyrian Period, Ancient history of Cyprus - The City-Kingdoms, Ancient history of Cyprus - Persian period, Ancient history of Cyprus - Hellenistic Period, Ancient history of Cyprus - Roman occupation, Ancient history of Cyprus - Christianization, Ancient history of Cyprus - Literature, Ancient history of Cyprus - Reference

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As Sicily was a hilly island, with geographical obstacles and a terrain where lines of communication are difficult to maintain, land warfare played a secondary role in the First Punic War. Land operations were mostly confined to small scale raids and skirmishes between the armies, with hardly any pitched battle. Sieges and land blockades were the most common operations for the regular army. The main targets of blockading were the important naval ports, since neither of the belligerent parties were based in Sicily and both needed a continuous supply of rei ...

See also:

First Punic War, First Punic War - Background, First Punic War - Land warfare, First Punic War - Naval warfare, First Punic War - Aftermath, First Punic War - Casualties, First Punic War - Peace terms, First Punic War - Political results, First Punic War - Notable leaders, First Punic War - Chronology

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Roman Cyprus was visited by Apostles Paul, Barnabas and St Mark who came to the island at the outset of their first missionary journey in 45 AD. After their arrival at Salamis they proceeded to Paphos where they converted the Roman Governor Sergius Paulus to Christianity. In the Acts of the Apostles, St Luke describes vividly how a magician named Bar-Jesus (Elymas) was obstructing the two Apostles in their preaching of the Gospel, so Paul by his word only set him blind for some time. As a result of this, Sergius Paulus believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord. In this way Cyprus became the f ...

See also:

Ancient history of Cyprus, Ancient history of Cyprus - Assyrian Period, Ancient history of Cyprus - The City-Kingdoms, Ancient history of Cyprus - Persian period, Ancient history of Cyprus - Hellenistic Period, Ancient history of Cyprus - Roman occupation, Ancient history of Cyprus - Christianization, Ancient history of Cyprus - Literature, Ancient history of Cyprus - Reference

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In the middle of the 3rd century BC, the power of Rome was growing. Following centuries of internal rebellions and disturbances, the whole of the Italian peninsula was tightly secured under Roman hands. All enemies — such as the Latin league or the Samnites — had been overcome, and the invasion of Pyrrhus of Epirus was repelled. Romans had an enormous confidence in their political system and military. Across the Tyrrhenian Sea and the Strait of Sicily, Carthage was already an established naval and commercial power, controlling most of th ...

See also:

First Punic War, First Punic War - Background, First Punic War - Land warfare, First Punic War - Naval warfare, First Punic War - Aftermath, First Punic War - Casualties, First Punic War - Peace terms, First Punic War - Political results, First Punic War - Notable leaders, First Punic War - Chronology

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During the siege of Tyre, the Cypriot Kings went over to Alexander of Macedon and supported him with ships. In 321 four Cypriot kings sided with Ptolemy I Soter and defended the island against Antigonos.In appreciation, Alexander set them free. This period, however was very brief since the Macedonian King died soon afterwards and Cyprus became a bone of contention among his successors. Ptolemy lost Cyprus to Demetrios Poliorketes in 306 and 294 BC, but after that it remained under Ptolemaic rule till 58 BC. It was ruled by a governor from Eg ...

See also:

Ancient history of Cyprus, Ancient history of Cyprus - Assyrian Period, Ancient history of Cyprus - The City-Kingdoms, Ancient history of Cyprus - Persian period, Ancient history of Cyprus - Hellenistic Period, Ancient history of Cyprus - Roman occupation, Ancient history of Cyprus - Christianization, Ancient history of Cyprus - Literature, Ancient history of Cyprus - Reference

Read more here: » Ancient history of Cyprus: Encyclopedia II - Ancient history of Cyprus - Hellenistic Period

Emperor Ashoka ruled for an estimated forty years, and after his death, the Maurya dynasty lasted just fifty more years. Ashoka had many wives and children, but their names are lost to time. Mahinda and Sanghamitta were twins born by his first wife, Devi, in the city of Ujjain. He had entrusted to them the job of making his state religion, Buddhism, more popular across the known and the unknown world. Mahinda and Sanghamitta went into Sri Lanka and converted the King, the Queen and their people to Buddhism. So they were naturally not the one ...

See also:

Ashoka, Ashoka - Historical sources, Ashoka - Early life, Ashoka - Rise to power, Ashoka - Conversion to Buddhism, Ashoka - Death and legacy, Ashoka - Ashoka and Buddhist Kingship, Ashoka - Ashoka in popular culture, Ashoka - Sources

Read more here: » Ashoka: Encyclopedia II - Ashoka - Death and legacy

The fate of Antigonus Gonatas, now 18, was closely tied with that of his father Demetrius who escaped from the battle with 9.000 troops. Jealousy among the victors eventually allowed Demetrius to regain part of the power his father had lost. He conquered Athens and much of Greece and in 294 BC he seized the throne of Macedonia from Alexander, the son of Cassander. Because Antigonus Gonatas was the grandson of Antipater and the nephew of Cassander, through his mother, his presence helped to reconcile the ...

See also:

Antigonus II Gonatas, Antigonus II Gonatas - Birth and family, Antigonus II Gonatas - Demetrius's general, Antigonus II Gonatas - In the wilderness, Antigonus II Gonatas - King of Macedonia, Antigonus II Gonatas - Antigonus against Pyrrhus, Antigonus II Gonatas - The Chremonidean war, Antigonus II Gonatas - Antigonus against Aratus, Antigonus II Gonatas - Death and Appraisal

Read more here: » Antigonus II Gonatas: Encyclopedia II - Antigonus II Gonatas - Demetrius's general

Antigonus Gonatas was born around 319 BC, probably in Gonnoi in Thessaly. He was related to the most powerful of the Diadochi (the generals of Alexander who divided the empire after his death in 323 BC). Antigonus's father was Demetrius Poliorcetes, who was the son of Antigonus, who then controlled much of Asia. His mother was Phila, the daughter of Antipater. The latter controlled Macedonia and Greece and was recognized as regent of the empire, which in theory remained united. In this year, however, Antipater died, ...

See also:

Antigonus II Gonatas, Antigonus II Gonatas - Birth and family, Antigonus II Gonatas - Demetrius's general, Antigonus II Gonatas - In the wilderness, Antigonus II Gonatas - King of Macedonia, Antigonus II Gonatas - Antigonus against Pyrrhus, Antigonus II Gonatas - The Chremonidean war, Antigonus II Gonatas - Antigonus against Aratus, Antigonus II Gonatas - Death and Appraisal

Read more here: » Antigonus II Gonatas: Encyclopedia II - Antigonus II Gonatas - Birth and family