Centuries: 4th century BC - 3rd century BC - 2nd century BC

Decades: 300s BC 290s BC 280s BC 270s BC 260s BC - 250s BC - 240s BC 230s BC 220s BC 210s BC 200s BC

Years: 255 BC 254 BC 253 BC 252 BC 251 BC - 250 BC - 249 BC 248 BC 247 BC 246 BC 245 BC

Events

• Greek astronomer Eratosthenes calculates the circumference of Earth.
• Soghdiana is conquered by the Parthians.
• Bactria gains its independence from the Seleucid Empire. (approximate date)
• Antiochus II Theos makes peace with Ptolemy II of Egypt.
• Xiao Wen Wang becomes King of the Qin Dynasty of China but dies before the end of the year.
• First Punic War: Lucius Caecilius Metellus captures 140 war elephants in Sicily, transports them to Rome and displays them in the Circus Maximus.

Births

Deaths

• Marcus Atilius Regulus, Roman general and consul
• Timaeus, Greek historian
• Erasistratus, Greek anatomist (approximate date)
• Zhao Xiang Wang , King of the Qin Dynasty of China.
• Xiao Wen Wang , King of the Qin Dynasty of China.