Religion & Belief in the 2nd century BC

33 sourced entries, 199 BCE to 100 BCE, oldest first. Also see Religion & Belief across every century or everything else in the 2nd century BC.

• 199 BCEScipio Africanus becomes censor and princeps Senatus (the titular head of the Roman Senate).source
• 199 BCEThe Roman law, Lex Porcia, is proposed by the tribune P. Porcius Laeca to give Roman citizens in Italy and provinces the right of appeal in capital cases.source
• 197 BCEHispania is divided into Hispania Ulterior and Hispania Citerior.source
• 196 BCEThe Rosetta Stone is created. This stone is a Ptolemaic era stele written with the same text in two Egyptian language scripts (hieroglyphic and demotic) and in classical Greek. The translation of the Greek passage reveals that the inscription is a royal edict recording the benefits conferred on Egypt by the pharaoh Ptolemy V Epiphanes at the time of his coronation. This stone will provide the key to the hieroglyphic, or pictographic writing, of ancient Egypt and the decree on it reveals the increasing influence of Egyptian natives, remitted debts and taxes, released prisoners, pardoned rebels who have surrendered, and granted increased benefactions to the temples.source
• 196 BCEA new category of Roman priests, the tresviri epulones, are elected to supervise the feasts of the gods; the first three men selected are Gaius Licinius Lucullus, Publius Manlius, and Publius Porcius Laeca.source
• 191 BCEEmperor Hui of Han lifts the ban on Confucian writings ordered in 213 BC.source
• 191 BCEThe Roman calendar, which is four months ahead of the seasons, is adjusted (by Lex Acilia de intercalando).source
• 187 BCEQueen Cleopatra I is appointed Vizier (Chief Minister) to the King Ptolemy V Epiphanes.source
• 184 BCECato the Elder, along with his colleague, Lucius Valerius Flaccus, are elected censors in Rome. Already the champion of the ancient, austere Roman way of life, Cato inaugurates a puritanical campaign. He aims at preserving the mos maiorum ("ancestral custom") and combating all Greek influences, which he believes are undermining the older Roman standards of morality. He passes measures taxing luxury and strictly revises the list of persons eligible for the Senate. Abuses by tax gatherers are brought under control, and public building is promoted as a worthy cause.source
• 180 BCEFollowing the death of Aristophanes of Byzantium, Aristarchus of Samothrace becomes librarian at Alexandria.source
• 179 BCEMarcus Aemilius Lepidus is appointed both censor and princeps senatus.source
• 175 BCETimarchus is appointed governor of Media in western Persia by Antiochus IV to deal with the growing threat from the Parthians. At the same time, Timarchus' brother, Heracleides, becomes minister of the royal finances.source
• 173 BCEThe first known session of the Mahestan (a noble advisory council consisting of Zoroastrian priests and aristocrats) is believed to have taken place during Nowruz (the Persian New Year) in this year, under the reign of Mithridates I of Parthia. This council later played a key role in advising the king and, at times, selecting or deposing monarchs.source
• 173 BCEDedication of the Temple of Fortuna Equestris.source
• 172 BCESince the reign of the Seleucid king, Antiochus III, the Jewish inhabitants of Judea enjoy extensive autonomy under their high priest. However, they are divided into two parties, the orthodox Hasideans (Pious Ones) and a reform party that favours Hellenism. Antiochus IV supports the reform party because of the financial support they provide him with. In return for a considerable payment, he has permitted the high priest, Jason, to build a gymnasium in Jerusalem and to introduce the Greek mode of educating young people. Jason's time as high priest is brought to an abrupt end when he sends Menelaus, the brother of Simon the Benjamite, to deliver money to Antiochus IV. Menelaus takes this opportunity to "outbid" Jason for the priesthood, resulting in Antiochus IV confirming Menelaus as the High Priest.source
• 171 BCELucius Postumius Albinus is sent by Rome as an ambassador to King Masinissa of Numidia, and to the Carthaginians in order to raise troops for the war against Perseus of Macedonia.source
• 168 BCEJason removes Menelaus as High Priest in Jerusalem, which Antiochus IV regards as an affront to his majesty.source
• 164 BCELucius Aemilius Paullus Macedonicus is elected censor in Rome.source
• 163 BCEIn the turmoil following the death of Antiochus IV, the governor of Media, Timarchus becomes the independent ruler of Media, opposing Lysias who is acting as regent for young king Antiochus V Eupator.source
• 157 BCEDuring his time in Carthage, Cato is so struck by the evidence of Carthaginian prosperity that he is convinced that the security of Rome now depends on the annihilation of Carthage. From this time on, Cato keeps repeating the cry "Ceterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam" ("Moreover, I advise that Carthage must be destroyed") at the end of all his speeches, no matter what subject they concern.source
• 152 BCEThe pretender to the Seleucid throne, Alexander Balas, makes contact with Jonathan Maccabeus offering him terms even more favorable than those offered by the king Demetrius I Soter. In particular, Alexander offers him the official appointment as High Priest in Jerusalem. In response, Jonathan withdraws his support from Demetrius and declares his allegiance to Alexander. Thus Jonathan becomes the first member of his family to achieve appointment as High Priest.source
• 148 BCEPublius Cornelius Scipio Aemilianus divides Numidia among the three sons of the recently deceased Masinissa.source
• 142 BCESimon Maccabaeus succeeds his brother Jonathan as High Priest of Judea until 135 BC.source
• 136 BCECensorship of Appius Claudius Pulcher and Quintus Fulvius Nobilior.source
• 136 BCECarneades retires as head of the Platonic Academy and is replaced by Polemarchus of Nicomedia.source
• 134 BCEOn the advice of philosopher Dong Zhongshu, Emperor Wu of Han promotes Confucianism as the official doctrine of the Han dynasty and assigns special merit to the Book of Rites, the Classic of Music, the Classic of Poetry, the Book of Documents, I Ching (the Book of Changes) and the Spring and Autumn Annals.source
• 125 BCECleopatra Thea succeeds to the rule of the Seleucid Empire on the death of Seleucus V. She appoints Antiochus VIII Grypus as co-ruler.source
• 123 BCEGaius Gracchus elected Roman tribune for the first time. He waits until after his re-election the following year before pushing forward the various civil and agrarian reforms that his brother championed in 133 BC.source
• 116 BCEJune 26 – At the death of Ptolemy VIII Physcon, Cleopatra III has chosen her younger son Ptolemy X Alexander as co-regent, but the Alexandrians force her to bring Ptolemy IX from Cyprus, of which he is governor.source
• 104 BCEAristobulus I succeeds John Hyrcanus, becoming king and high priest of Judea, until 103 BC.source
• 103 BCEAlexander Jannaeus succeeds his brother Aristobulus I as king and high priest of Judea, until 76 BC.source
• 100 BCEThe deuterocanonical books of 1 and 2 Maccabees are written.source
• 100 BCEConsuls: Lucius Valerius Flaccus, Gaius Marius (Marius's sixth consulship).source