240 BC - Definition and Overview

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

Decades: 290s BC 280s BC 270s BC 260s BC 250s BC - 240s BC - 230s BC 220s BC 210s BC 200s BC 190s BC

Years: 245 BC 244 BC 243 BC 242 BC 241 BC - 240 BC - 239 BC 238 BC 237 BC 236 BC 235 BC

Events

• First production of Achilles, the first Latin tragedy, by Livius Andronicus.
• Revolt of Carthaginian mercenaries begins.
• Writing of Papyrus of Ani (The Egyptian Book of the Dead)
• Halley's comet was observed for the first (confirmed) time.

Births

Deaths

• Arcesilaus of Pitane, sceptic philosopher
• Theocritus, Greek poet
• Aratus, Greek astronomer