Religion & Belief in the 1st century BC

53 sourced entries, 97 BCE to 2 BCE, oldest first. Also see Religion & Belief across every century or everything else in the 1st century BC.

• 97 BCEA decree of the Roman Senate bans human sacrifices.source
• 95 BCE"Forty-metre structure" at Emain Macha (near modern Armagh, Northern Ireland) was built and destroyed, presumably for ritual or ceremonial purposes.source
• 95 BCEConsuls: Lucius Licinius Crassus and Quintus Mucius Scaevola Pontifexsource
• 82 BCEPompey is ordered by Sulla to stamp out Marian rebels in Sicily and Africa, after his campaigns in he gets the insulting nickname of adulescentulus carnifex, the "teenage butcher".source
• 75 BCEStart of Golden Age of Latin Literature.source
• 69 BCEAntiochus XIII Asiaticus is installed as king of Syria.source
• 68 BCEGaius Antonius Hybrida elected praetor.source
• 66 BCECatiline accused of conspiring against the Roman Republic with Autronius and the younger Sulla (also in 63 BC during the consulship of Cicero).source
• 66 BCEAristobulus II becomes king and high priest of Judea, until 63 BC.source
• 66 BCECicero becomes praetor in Rome.source
• 66 BCEGaius Antonius elected Roman praetor.source
• 63 BCEEstablishment of the Decapolis and Year 1 of the Pompeian era.source
• 63 BCECato the Younger is elected tribune of the people for 62 BC, taking office in early December 63 BC.source
• 63 BCEMarcus Tullius Cicero is senior consul. He is the first novus homo (new man) to be elected to the consulship in 31 years.source
• 63 BCEJulius Caesar is elected Pontifex Maximus and praetor for 62 BC.source
• 62 BCECicero delivers his Pro Archia Poeta in defense of Aulus Licinius Archias' claim to Roman citizenship.source
• 62 BCEKing Antiochus I Theos of Commagene builds his mountain-top tomb-sanctuary at Mount Nemrut.source
• 62 BCEMetellus Nepos, also tribune, leaves Rome.source
• 62 BCEJulius Caesar divorces Pompeia, following the sacrilege of Publius Clodius Pulcher.source
• 62 BCECaesar and Bibulus are praetors.source
• 50 BCEInitiation Rites of the Cult of Bacchus, detail of a wall painting in the Villa of the Mysteries, Pompeii, is made (approximate date).source
• 49 BCEOctober – Caesar is appointed Dictator in Rome.source
• 49 BCEConsuls: Lucius Cornelius Lentulus Crus, Gaius Claudius Marcellus.source
• 47 BCEConsuls: Quintus Fufius Calenus, Publius Vatinius.source
• 46 BCECaesar reforms the Roman calendar to create the Julian calendar. The transitional year is extended to 445 days to synchronize the new calendar and the seasonal cycle. The Julian Calendar would remain the standard in the western world for over 1600 years, until superseded by the Gregorian Calendar in 1582.source
• 46 BCECaesar appoints his nephew Octavian his heir.source
• 45 BCECaesar probably writes his Commentaries in this year.source
• 45 BCECaesar is named dictator for life.source
• 44 BCESeptember 2 – Pharaoh Cleopatra VII of Egypt declares her son co-ruler as Ptolemy XV Caesarion.source
• 43 BCEApril 21 – Cicero's 14th and last Philippic.source
• 40 BCEConsuls: Gnaeus Domitius Calvinus and Gaius Asinius Pollio.source
• 36 BCEJudea: Aristobulus III, the last of the Hasmoneans, becomes High Priest in Jerusalem, replacing Ananelus, who has only held the position for one year.source
• 35 BCEPhraates IV ascended the Parthian throne after eliminating his father Orodes II and several royal rivals. The Mahestan (the noble council of the Parthian Empire) initially opposed his rise due to concerns about his violent methods. However, Phraates IV consolidated power by executing or exiling many council members, significantly weakening the influence of the Mahestan.source
• 34 BCEMark Antony becomes Roman Consul for the second time. His partner is Lucius Scribonius Libo. The latter is replaced with Aemilius Lepidus Paullus during the year.source
• 31 BCEAugustus, then known as Imperator Caesar, becomes Roman Consul for the third time. Antony was designated as his colleague but is deposed from office, an action that Antony does not recognise. Elected in Antony's place is Marcus Valerius Messalla Corvinus; Antony's consulship is not recorded in some sources, as Valerius is marked instead as consul ordinarius.source
• 29 BCEMarch 1 – Horace writes the ode Occidit Daci Cotisonis agmen.source
• 28 BCEThe Roman Senate grants Octavian Caesar imperium maius (supreme command) of the Roman armed forces (Around 28 legions).source
• 26 BCEGavius Silo, orator, is heard by Caesar Augustus - mentioned by Seneca.source
• 25 BCEThe temple to Neptune on the Circus Flaminius is built.source
• 23 BCEHerod the Great builds a palace in Jerusalem and the fortress Herodium in Judaea. He also marries his third wife, named Mariamne, the daughter of high priest Simon.source
• 23 BCEAugustus relinquishes the position of consul, retains that of tribune of Rome, and assumes that of Princeps, or "First Citizen." (see Roman Empire).source
• 22 BCEAemilius Lepidus Paullus and Lucius Munatius Plancus are Censors.source
• 19 BCEKing Herod the Great begins renovation of the Temple in Jerusalem.source
• 19 BCEIn Rome, Lucius Cornelius Balbus receives the honor of a triumph on the Forum Romanum, for his victories over the Garamantes in Africa.source
• 16 BCEConstruction of the Roman temple of Maison Carrée at Nîmes in Gallia Narbonensis (approximate date).source
• 12 BCEEmperor Augustus is given the title Pontifex Maximus.source
• 12 BCEApproximate date – Pyramid of Cestius erected in Rome.source
• 10 BCEThe Obelisk of Montecitorio is brought from Egypt to Rome by Emperor Augustus to be erected as a sundial gnomon of the Solarium Augusti. It is now in the Piazza Montecitorio.source
• 9 BCEJanuary 30 – The Ara Pacis ("Altar of Augustan Peace"), which was voted for by the Senate four years earlier, is dedicated.source
• 8 BCESextilis, the eighth month of the early Julian calendar, is renamed Augustus (August) by a decree of the Roman Senate in honor of Augustus.source
• 7 BCEThe city of Rome is divided into 14 administrative regions.source
• 2 BCEFebruary 5 – Augustus is proclaimed pater patriae ("father of the country") by the Roman Senate. This bestowed title is the logical consequence and final proof of Augustus' supreme position as princeps, the first in charge over the Roman state.source
• 2 BCEThe Forum Augustum is dedicated.source