Strata: In History

BAR takes a look back at some important events in history that happened during the months of January and February.

January 1, 404 A.D. The last known gladiator competition in Rome, and hence, the supposed date of the martyrdom of Saint Telemachus, who, according to Catholic tradition, tried to intervene in the fight and was stoned to death by spectators.

January 3, 1521 A.D. Martin Luther is excommunicated by Pope Leo X.

January 14, 1997 A.D. Greek archaeologists announce that they have discovered an ancient site in Athens that may have been Aristotle’s Lyceum.

January 15, 1759 A.D. The British Museum in London opens to the public for the first time.

February 13, 166/7 A.D. Polycarp, bishop of Smyrna and supposed disciple of John, is martyred, according to Eusebius.

February 15, 399 B.C. For corrupting the youth of Athens, Greek philosopher Socrates is sentenced to death by drinking poisonous hemlock.

February 19, 1948 A.D. John C. Trever becomes the first American to see the Dead Sea Scrolls—the Manual of Discipline (1QS), the Habakkuk Commentary, the Genesis Apocryphon and the Great Isaiah Scroll.

February 27, 272/3 A.D. Constantine the Great is born in what is now Nis, Serbia.

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