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60 CE

The year 60 is the first identifiable year for which a date is cited complete with day of the week, i.e. 6 February 60, identified as a "Sunday" (as viii idus Februarius dies solis "eighth day before the ides of February, day of the Sun") in a Pompeiian graffito. This is explained by the existence of two conventions of naming days of the weeks based on the planetary hours system, 6 February was a "Sunday" based on the sunset naming convention, and a "Wednesday" based on the sunrise naming convention.

Geopolitics & Diplomacy

  • Gaius Suetonius Paulinus, Roman governor of Britain, captures the island of Mona (Anglesey), the last stronghold of the Druids.source

Conflict & Security

  • Agrippa II of the Herodians rules the northeast of Judea.source
  • Boudica leads a rebellion of the Iceni against Roman rule in alliance with the Trinovantes, Cornovii, Durotriges and Celtic Britons. The Iceni and Trinovantes first destroy the Roman capital Camulodunum (Colchester), wipe out the infantry of the Legio IX Hispana (commanded by Quintus Petillius Cerialis) and go on to burn Londinium (London) (probably destroying London Bridge) and Verulamium (St Albans), in all cases massacring the inhabitants by the thousands.source
  • The Roxolani are defeated on the Danube by the Romans.source

Exploration & Expansion

  • Nero's exploration of the Nile: Emperor Nero sends an expedition which reaches the historical city Meroë (Sudan). (approximate date)source
  • Vitellius is (possibly) proconsul of the province of Africa.source

Religion & Belief

  • The First Epistle of Peter, if by Peter, is probably written between this year and c. AD 64.source
  • Paul of Tarsus journeys to Rome, but is shipwrecked on Malta. He stays for three months and converts Publius, the first bishop of Malta.source
  • Paul's Epistle to the Philippians is written from Rome. (approximate date)source

Technology & Infrastructure

  • AD 60–79 – House of the Vettii, Pompeii, is rebuilt.source
  • Hero of Alexandria writes Metrica, Mechanics, and Pneumatics.source

Climate & Environment

  • The city of Laodicea on the Lycus is destroyed by an earthquakesource

Culture & Society

  • The following events in Roman Britain (Britannia) take place in AD 60 or 61:source

Births

  • Buddhamitra, Indian Buddhist nun (approximate date)source
  • Nicomachus, Greek mathematician (approximate date)source
  • Marcus Vitorius Marcellus, Roman politician (approximate date)source

Deaths

  • Prasutagus, king of the Iceni (modern East Anglia), dies leaving a will which passes his kingdom to his two daughters and the Roman Empire. The Roman army, however, annexes the kingdom as if conquered, depriving the nobles of their hereditary lands and plundering the land. The king's widow, Boudica, is flogged and forced to watch their daughters publicly raped. Roman financiers, including Seneca the Younger, call in their loans.source
  • Boudica, British queen of the Iceni tribe (approximate date)source
  • Abdagases I, king of the Parthian Empire (approximate date)source
  • Peter of Rates, first bishop of Braga (approximate date)source
  • Battle of Watling Street: Paulinus defeats the rebels, using a flying wedge formation, imposes wide-ranging punishments on native Britons, and the Romanization of Britain continues. Boudica either poisons herself, or falls sick and dies.source