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DateRamsey No.Geographic Associations,EventSourcesType
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481? BCE Sept-Dec.1Battle of Salamis (Sept. 480)Salamis: Plin. NH 2.90 ; Xerxes' Invasion: Lydus, De Mensibus 4.116Comet
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467? BCE2Aegospotami- falling meteroriteDiogenes Laertius 2.11; IG XII.5 444.l.72-73; Eusebius, Chron. P.110 (ed. Helm); Aristotle, Mete. 1.7 344b.31-34; Seneca, Natural Questions 7.5.3; Plin. NH. 2.149; Plutarch, Life of Lysander 12.6Comet
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430 BCE1a App.Plague at Athens, EarthquakesManilius, Astronomica, 1.880-1886Object
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426 BCE Jan.-Feb. 3Recurrence of Plague at Athens, Earthquakes[Hippocrates]. Epidemics 4.21; Aristotle Mete. 1.6 343b4-6; Manilius, Astron. 1.880-886Comet
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394 BCE2a AppBattle of CnidusPlin. NH. 2.96
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372 BCE Jan./Feb.?4Buris and Helike (Gulf of Corinth) Destroyed, Battle of Leuctra (July? 371)Helike and Buris: Ephorus, Histories fr. 212 (Seneca, NQ 7.16.2); Aristotle, Mete. 1.6 343b1-4, 18-25, 1.7 344b34-345al; Seneca, NQ 7.5.4; Callisthenes, Hellenica fr. 21; Paus. 7.24.8; Battle of Leuctra: Diodorus Siculus 15.50.1-3; Cic. Div. 2.54.Comet
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350/349 BCE3a App. Warfare in Greece, Philip IIPlin. NH. 2.96-97Chasma (aurora borealis?)
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346? BCE5Plin. NH. 2.90Comet
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344 BCE6Torch of Timoleon / Voyage to Sicily between Ionian Gulf, from the island of Corcyra to Metapontum Diodorus Siculus 16.66.1, 3; Plutarch, Life of Timoleon, 8.5-6.Possible Comet
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341/0 BCE7Storm at CorinthAristotle, Mete. 1.7 345a2-5Comet
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303/2 BCE8Expedition of Lysimachus to Asia MinorIG XII.5.444 (taken with); IG XI.5 444.l.130= FGrH 239 B 25. Comet
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216 BCE9Battle of CannaeSilius Italicus, Punica 8.636-7. Possible Comet
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204 BCE Aug.-Sept.10Second Punic War (later associated with win at the Battle of Zama)Livy, AUC, 29.14.3; Comet
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203 BCE11Second Punic War (observed in Anagnia)Livy, AUC, 30.2.11Possible Comet
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176 BCE12Death of Consul (seen at Tusculum)Livy, AUC, 41.16.6Possible Comet
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174 BCE4a App.Plague, Observed in the district of LanuviumLivy, AUC, 41.21.13faces (torches)
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169 BCE13Third Macedonian War (observed in Anagnia, Menturnae)Livy, AUC, 43.13.3Possible Comet
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168 BCE5a App.Battle of PydnaSeneca, NQ, 1.1.2globus ignis (fireball)
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167 BCE14After Illyrian and Macedonian Wars (observed in Lanuvium)Livy. AUC, 45.16.5Possible Comet
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166 BCE15Observed at Lanuvium, at Casinum "the sun was seen for some hours during the night"Obsequens 12. Possible Comet
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163 BCE16Observed at Capua, Formiae, Pisaurum. *Comet also observed from BabyloniaObsequens 14Possible Comet
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147 BCE Aug.17Achaian War Comet (after death of Demetrius I Soter?)Seneca NQ 7.15.1; Obsequens 20.Comet
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137 BCE Sept.-Oct.18[Numantine War] Observed at PraenesteObsequens 24Comet
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135 BCE July-Sept.19King Mithridates BornSeneca NQ 7.15.2; Justin 37.2.1-3; Numismatic EvidenceComet
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134 BCE June-July6a App."New Star" of Hipparchus?; Observed from AmiternumPlin. NH. 2.95; Obsequens 27"Guest Star" (nova?)
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119 BCE Mar.-Jun.20King Mithridates Ascends ThroneJustin 37.2.1-3; Numismatic EvidenceComet
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116 BCE Aug. 29p.90France, NW AfricaEclipse
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106 BCE7a App. Observed at RomeObsequens 41fax (torch)
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105 BCE Feb. 3p.90Visible in Sicily and GreeceEclipse
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104? BCE 19 July21Posidonius' eclipse comet / Seen from Rhodes?Seneca, NQ 7.20.4Eclipse and Comet
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100 BCE8a App.Observed at Tarquinii Obsequens 45fax (torch); Probably a meteor
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94 BCE22Observed from the district of VestiniObsequens 51Possible Comet
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92 BCE23Observed from FaesulaeObsequens 53Possible Comet
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91 BCE9a App.Social War Obsequens 56; Orosius 5.18.3Fireball
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88 BCE10a App.Outbreak of First Mithridatic War; Possibly observed by Mithridates on Island of Rhodessidus (heavenly body)= meteor
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87 BCE July-Aug.24Halley's Comet / Marian-Cinnan Civil War. Observed from Rome. *Comet also observed from Babylonia: Devastation in Rome: civil war, pestilence (17,000 dead), later proscriptionsCicero, De Natura Deorum 2.14; Pliny, NH 2.92; Obsequens 56aComet
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78 BCE March 6p.90Visible from W. Mediterranean, N. ItalyEclipse
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76 BCE11a App. Roman Province of AsiaPlin. NH. 2.100Fireball
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73 BCE May 8p.90Visible in S. Italy and N. GreeceEclipse
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63 BCE March/Apr. 12a App.Conspiracy of Catiline; Observed from Alban Hills outside RomeCicero, In Catilinam, 3.18Meteors?
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56 BCE Jan.-Apr.13a App.Conflict between Clodius and Cicero;Earthquake at Potentia in Picenum; Rebuilding of Cicero's House; Observed from Rome?Dio 39.20.1Meteor?
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53/52 BCE14a App. Murder of Clodius (jan. 52 BCE); Observed from Rome?Dio 40.47.2Meteor?
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49 BCE Jan., April-May25Civil War between Pompey and Caesar. Observed from Rome. Lucan, The Civil War 1.526-529; Plin. NH. 2.92; Dio 41.14.3Lunar eclipse (jan.), solar eclipse (9 Aug.), comet
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45 BCE15a App.Battle of MundaDio 43.35.3Meteors
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44 BCE mid May to late July26Caesar's Funeral Games/ Apotheosis. Observed from RomeVirgil, Eclogues 9.46-49; Virgil, Geogics 1.487-88; Caesar Augustus, Memoirs fr. 6 (=Plin. NH. 2.94); Seneca NQ 7.17.2; Plin. NH 2.90, 93-94; Plutarch, Life of Caesar, 69.3; Suetonius, Life of Julius Caesar, 88; Obsequens 68; Caesar Augustus, Memoirs fr. 7 (ap. Servius on Virgil, Eclogues, 9.46); Horace, Odes, 1.12.46-48; Propertius 3.18.33-34; Tibullus 2.5.71; Virgil, Aeneid, 8.681; Numismatic Evidence; Propertius 4.6.59; Ovid, Met. 15.746-750, 840-850; Baebius Macer fr. 1 (=Servius on Virgil, Eclogues, 9.46); Valerius Maximus, pr. Book 1. 3.2.19, 6.9.15; Calpurnius Siculus, Eclogues, 1.82-83; Silius Italicus, Punica 13.862-864; Dio Cassius 45.7.1; Zonaras, Epitome of Histories, 10.13; Dio 45.17.4; Obsequens 68; Avien(i)us (=Servius on Virgil, Aeneid, 10.272; Servius on Virgil, Eclogues, 9.46; Servius on Virgil, Aeneid, 1.287, 6.790, 8.681; Lydus, De Ostentis, 15 (p.43 ed. Wachsmuth). Comet
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43 BCE16a App. Siege of Mutina (Jan.-April)Plin. NH. 2.96Bolide
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42 BCE17a App.Battle of Philippi; Observed at RomeManilius 1.907-909; Dio 47.40.2Meteors
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32 BCE Feb.-Mar.27Battle of Actium (Sept. 31 BCE): Observed over the Greek Sea, likely over Actium. Dio 50.8.2Comet
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30 BCE28Suicide of Cleopatra (near Alexandria) Dio 51.17.5Possible Comet
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17 BCE29Augustus' Secular games (June)Dio 54.19.7; Obsequens 71; Numismatic EvidencePossible Comet
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12 BCE Aug.-Oct.30Halley's Comet / Death of Marcus Agrippa (late Mar.) in Campania; Observed in RomeDio 54.29.8Comet
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9 CE31Battle of Teutoburg Forest; Possibly also observed in Rome by Seneca?Seneca, NQ, 7.17.2; Dio 56.24.4Possible Comet
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13? CE Nov.-Dec.32Death of Augustus (19 August, 14 CE); Observed from RomeSeneca NQ, 7.17.2; Dio 56.29.3Possible Comet, Eclipse (mistake of Seneca)
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54 CE June-July33Murder of Emperor Claudius (13 October); Observed from RomeCalpurnius Siculus, Eclogue 1.77-81; Seneca, NQ, 7.6.1, 7.17.2, 7.21.3-4, 7.23.1, 7.29.2-3; Plin. NH. 2.92; Suetonius, Life of Claudius, 46.1; Dio (epitome of Xiphilinus) 60.35.1; Zonaras, Epitome of Histories, 11.11Comet
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60 CE Aug.-Dec.341st Neronian Comet / Earthquakes in Greece.Portends uprising of the Parthians (Lydus). Observed from RomeSeneca, NQ, 7.6.1, 7.17.2, 7.21.3-4, 7.23.1, 7.28.3, 7.29.2-3; Plin. NH. 2.90, 2.92; Tac. Ann. 14.22.1; [Seneca], Octavia, 231-234; Lydus, De Ostensis, 10bComet
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64 CE May-July35Pisonian Conspiracy (Spring 65 CE), the Vinician conspiracy at Beneventum; Possibly observed from RomePlin. NH. 2.92; Tac. Ann. 15.47.1; Suetonius, Life of Nero, 36.1.Comet
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66 CE jan.-Apr.36Halley's Comet / Jewish Rebellion (summer); Above JerusalemJosephus, Bellum Judaicum, 6.5.3.289-291; Eus. HE, 3.8.2 (with Josephus quoted); [Rufinius], De Bello Judaico, 7.12; Ps. -Hegesippus, De Bello Judaico, 5.44.1; George Cedrenus, Historiae Compendium (PG 121.412); Zonaras, Epitome of Histories, 6.24; Plin. NH. 2.92. Comet
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69 CE37Vespasian's overthrow of Vitellius; Observed at Rome. Dio (epitome of Xiphilinus) 65.8.1 (Book 64, ed. Boissevain)Comet; Eclipses
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76 CE Oct.38acontias ("javelin") cometPlin. NH. 2.89Comet
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79 CE Mar.-Apr.39Death of Vespasian (June 24)Suet. Life of Vespasian, 23.4; Dio (epitome of Xiphilinus) 66.17.2-3 (Book 66, ed. Boissevain); [Sextus Aurelius Victor], Epitome de Caesaribus, 9.18; Comet
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117? CE Jan.40Omens regarding Trajan's Parthian War; Observed from Rome?Juvenal, Satires, 6.407-408; Possible Comet
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132? CE41New Star of Antinous/ Link to death of Antinous; Observed by Hadrian from Rome?Dio (epitome of Xiphilinus) 69.11.4 (ed. Boissevain?)Possible Comet
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141? CE42Halley's Comet / linked to reign of Antoninus PiusHA, Life of Antoninus Pius, 9.3.Comet
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162 CE18a App.Visit of Verus to Athens; Cited as at AthensCassiodorus, Chronicon (ed. Mommsen, Chronica Minora II.143); coss. Rusticus and Aquilinus (162 CE)Bolide?
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191 CE Oct. 43Commodan Comet / Fire in Rome and mad behavior of CommodusHerodian, History of the Empire after Marcus Aurelius, 1.14.1; HA, Life of Commodus, 16.1Comet
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204 CE Nov.-Dec.44Execution of Plautianus (Jan. 22, 205 CE) at Rome; Observed from RomeDio (epitome of Xiphilinus) 75.16.5 (Book 76, ed. Boissevain)Comet
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218 CE May-June45Halley's Comet / Death of Macrinus, defeated in battle near Syrian AntiochDio 78.30.1 Comet, Eclipse
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336 CE mid Feb.46Death of Constantine the Great (May 22, 337 CE) at Nicomedia; Observed from AntiochEutropius 10.8.2; Aurelius Victor, De Caesaribus, 41.16; Theophanes Confessor, Chronographia, a.m. 5826 (333/4 CE) (ed. C. de Boor I.29-30)Comet
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351 CE19a App.Gallus appointed Caesar; Overtop Jerusalem from Mount Calvary to Mt. of OlivesSt. Cyril of Jerusalem, Letter to the emperor Constantius, 4.17-23; Philostorgius, HE, 3.fr.26 (in the epitome of Photius); Soc. Schol. HE, 2.28; Soz. HE, 4.5.1-4; Consularia Constantinopolitana p.238 (ed. Mommsen), post coss. Sergius and Nigrinianus (351 CE); Chronicon Paschale, p.540 (ed. Dindorf).Portent in shape of a cross with rainbows
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363 CE spring20a App.Death of Emperor Julian (June); Appeared in MesopotamiaAmmianus Marcellinus, RG, 25.2.4. Meteor
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363 Aug.-Sept.47Jovian Comet / Death of Jovian (Feb. 17, 364) at DadastanaAmmianus Marcellinus, RG, 25.10.2Comet
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375 CE late Oct.-early Nov.48Death of Valentinian (Nov. 17), Observed at Brigetio in PannoniaAmmianus Marcellinus, RG, 30.5.16Possible Comet
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389 CE Aug.-Sept.49Unspecified disasters; Concludes state visit of Theodosius I to Rome in September 389 CE; Observed at RomePhilostorgius, HE, 10.fr.9 (epitome of Photius); Nicephorus Callistus, HE, 12.37; Marcellinus, Chronicon (ed. Mommsen, Chronica Minora, 2.62)Comet
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390 CE50Blazing Column Comet; Observed from Constantinople? (Marcellinus)Marcellinus, Chronicuon (ed. Mommsen, Chronica Minora 2.62); Fasti Vindobenses Priores 514 (ed. Mommsen Chronica Minora, 1.298); Chronica Gallica A. 452.26 (ed. Mommsen, Chronica Minora, 1.648); Chronica Gallica, A. 511.528 (ed. Mommsen, Chronica Minora, I.649). Possible Comet
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393 CE Nov.21a App.Honorius named Augustus (20 Nov.); Observed at Milan?Claudian, Panegyric on the Fourth Consulship of Honorius (poem 8 ed. Gesner) 184-188. Nova? Star
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398 CE22a App.Threatened destruction of Constantinople, earthquakes; Appeared above ConstantinopleAug. Serm. 397, De Urbis Excidio, 6.7 (delivered soon after the sack of Rome in 410)chasma
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400 CE Mar.-Apr.51Gainas (Alaric) Comet / Plot of Gainas (Constantinople), Invasion of Alaric (Italy), Pestilence; Observed in ConstantinoplePhilostorgius, HA, 11.fr.7 (epitome of Photius)l; Nicephorus Callistus, HE, 13.6; Soc. Schol. HE, 6.6; Claudian, De Bello Gothico, (poem 26 ed. Gesner) 243-248; Sozomen, HE, 8.4.10. Comet
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