The Kingdom of Pontus was a Hellenistic kingdom on the southern coast of the Black Sea, in northern Anatolia, in what is now Turkey. It was founded by Mithridates I Ktistes, of a dynasty of Persian descent, and reached its height under Mithridates VI Eupator, who expanded around the Black Sea into Colchis and Crimea and fought three wars against Rome. In 88 BCE he ordered a massacre of Roman and Italian residents of Asia, in which tens of thousands are said to have died. Pompey eventually defeated him, and he died in 63 BCE. Pontus then became part of the Roman province of Bithynia and Pontus, and the last client king, Polemon II, gave up his realm to Nero.
Before and after
- c. 285 BCEDeath of Euclid
- 284 BCEColossus of Rhodes
- 283 BCEDeath of Chanakya
- from 282 BCE to 133 BCEAttalid dynasty
- from 281 BCE to 62 CEKingdom of Pontus
- from 280 BCE to 146 BCEFounding of Achaean League
- from 280 BCE to 275 BCEPyrrhic War
- from 279 BCE to 1480Construction of Lighthouse of Alexandria
- 276 BCEBirth of Eratosthenes
More in Civilizations & archaeology
- from 31st century BCE to 14th century BCEConstruction of Stonehenge
- 13th century BCEAncient Celts
- 600 BCEFounding of Milan
- 80 CEThe Colosseum is inaugurated
- from 285 CE to 1453Byzantine Empire
- 25 March 421 CEFounding of Venice
The era
This moment belongs to the Ancient civilizations (3,200 BCE to 500 CE), writing, cities and empires. You can also browse everything in the 3rd century BCE.