278 BC

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

Decades: 320s BC 310s BC 300s BC 290s BC 280s BC – 270s BC – 260s BC 250s BC 240s BC 230s BC 220s BC

283 BC 282 BC 281 BC 280 BC 279 BC – 278 BC – 277 BC 276 BC 275 BC 274 BC 273 BC

Events

• Nicomedes I became the first to assume the title of king (c.278 – c.248 BC) of Bithynia. This monarch founded Nicomedia, which soon rose to great prosperity.
• The Gauls broke into Asia Minor, and a victory which Antiochus I Soter won over these hordes is said to have been the origin of his title of Soter (Gr. for "saviour").
• Shouchun (modern Shou County) in central Anhui became a refugee capital for the state of Chu after its heartlands in modern Hubei province were overrun by the powerful state of Qin in the west.
• Philemon wins the Dionysia.
• Fabricius Luscinus became consul for a second time.

Births

Deaths

• Qu Yuan, Early Chinese poet (c. 340-278 BC).