Editing 258 BC

{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2011}}
{{Year nav|-258}}
{{BC year in topic|258}}
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Year '''258 BC''' was a year of the [[Roman calendar|pre-Julian Roman calendar]]. At the time it was known as the '''Year of the Consulship of Calatinus and Peterculus''' (or, less frequently, '''year 496 ''[[Ab urbe condita]]'''''). The denomination 258 BC for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the [[Anno Domini]] [[calendar era]] became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.

== Events ==
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=== By place ===

==== Roman Republic ====
* The [[Roman Republic|Romans]] are able to regain the initiative in [[Sicily]] against [[Carthage]] by retaking [[Enna]] and [[Camarina]]. In central Sicily, they take the town of [[Mytistraton]], which they have attacked twice previously. The Romans also move in the north by marching across the northern coast toward [[Palermo|Panormus]], but are not able to take the city due to the city's heavily fortified walls.
* [[Gaius Duilius]] Nepos, the  Roman commander who has won a major naval victory over the Carthaginians is made [[Roman censor|censor]] with [[Lucius Cornelius Scipio (consul 259 BC)|Lucius Cornelius Scipio]]. The election of a [[novus homo]] (i.e. the first in his family to serve in the [[Roman Senate]] or be elected as [[Roman consul|consul]]) to the censorship is a very rare honor.

==== Egypt ====
* [[Ptolemy II Philadelphus|Ptolemy II]] loses control of the territory of [[Cyrenaica]].
* [[Erasistratus]] of [[Kea (island)|Ceos]] founds a medical school at [[Alexandria]].

==== Greece ====
* The forces of the [[Macedon]]ian King [[Antigonus II Gonatas|Antigonus II]] and the Seleucid King [[Antiochus II Theos|Antiochus II]] win a naval victory at [[Battle of Cos|Cos]] against their common enemy, [[Ptolemy II Philadelphus|Ptolemy II]]. This victory secures Antigonus control over the [[Aegean Sea]] and the League of the Islanders. It also diminishes Ptolemaic naval power.

====China====
* The [[State of Qin]] besieges [[Handan]], the capital of the [[State of Zhou]], but the Qin army under Wang Ling sustains heavy casualties. Wang Ling is then replaced by Wang He.<ref>{{cite book|first=Sima|last= Qian|title=Records of the Grand Historian, Section: Bai Qi}}</ref>
* The merchant [[Lu Buwei]] rescues the Qin prince Ying Yiren, a hostage at the Zhao court, from Handan. Ying Yiren will eventually become [[King Zhuangxiang of Qin]].<ref>{{cite book|first=Sima|last= Qian|title=Records of the Grand Historian, Section: Lu Buwei}}</ref>

==== Vietnam ====
* According to legend, the [[Hồng Bàng dynasty]] comes to an end.
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== Births ==
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== Deaths ==
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== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:258 Bc}}
[[Category:258 BC| ]]