66

This article is about the year 66. For the number (and other uses), see 66 (number).

Millennium:	1st millennium
Centuries:	1st century BC – 1st century – 2nd century
Decades:	30s 40s 50s – 60s – 70s 80s 90s
Years:	63 64 65 – 66 – 67 68 69

66 by topic
Politics
State leaders – Sovereign states
Birth and death categories
Births – Deaths
Establishment and disestablishment categories
Establishments – Disestablishments

Year 66 (LXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Telesinus and Paullinus (or, less frequently, year 819 Ab urbe condita). The denomination 66 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

September 22 – Emperor Nero creates the legion I Italica.
The Jewish Revolt (66–70 AD) commences against the Roman Empire.
The Zealots lay siege on Jerusalem and annihilate the Roman garrison (a cohort of Legio III).
The Sicarii capture the fortress of Masada overlooking the Dead Sea.
Cestius Gallus, legate of Syria, marches into Judea and leads a Roman army of 28,000 soldiers to put down the Jewish rebellion. Among the units are Legio III Gallica, Legio XII Fulminata and Legio XXII Primigenia.
November – Gallus succeeds in conquering Beit She'arim "the new city", but is unable to take the Temple in Jerusalem. He retreats to the coast, but is surrounded at Beth-Horon and nearly wiped out by the Zealots.
Gallus arrives in Caesarea, with six thousand men and numerous standards, including the eagle of Legio XII.
The Roman Legion II Augusta is stationed at Gloucester.
Suetonius Paullinus becomes a Roman Consul.

Dioscorides writes his De Materia Medica, a treatise on the methodical treatment of disease by use of medicine.