493 BC

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Year 493 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Auruncus and Viscellinus (or, less frequently, year 261 Ab urbe condita). The denomination 493 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

By place

Persian Empire

• A Phoenician-manned Persian fleet restores Persian control of Cyprus.

Greece

• The Athenian people elect Themistocles as archon, the chief judicial and civilian executive officer in Athens. He favours resistance against the Persians.
• Themistocles starts the construction of a fortified naval base at Piraeus, the port town of Athens.
• Among the refugees arriving from Ionia after the collapse of the Ionian Revolt is a chief named Miltiades, who has a fine reputation as a soldier. Themistocles makes him a general in the Athenian army.

Roman Republic

• Coriolanus captures the Volscian town of Corioli for Rome.
• During his second consulate, the Roman consul Spurius Cassius Viscellinus concludes a mutual defence treaty with the surrounding Latin villages and tribes. The treaty recognises commercial contracts binding throughout their cities. Rome abandons its claim to hegemony over the Latin league. In return, Rome is recognised as the dominant city in the League.

By topic

Literature

• The Athenian poet Phrynicus produces a tragedy on the Fall of Miletus. The Athenian authorities ban the play from further production on the grounds of impiety.

Births

Deaths

References