AD 62

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AD 62 (LXII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Marius and Afinius (or, less frequently, year 815 Ab urbe condita). The denomination AD 62 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

Roman Empire

• Emperor Nero marries for the second time, to Poppaea Sabina, ex-wife of Marcus Salvius Otho.
• After the death of Burrus and the disgrace of Seneca, Nero, free from their influence, becomes a megalomaniacal artist fascinated by Hellenism and the Orient. Tigellinus becomes Nero's counselor. From this time onward his rule becomes highly abusive.
• Nero completes the Baths of Nero in Rome.
• A great earthquake damages cities in Campania, including Pompeii (February 5).
• The Parthians invade Armenia and lay siege to Tigranocerta. The city is well-fortified and garrisoned by the Romans. The assault fails and king Vologases I retreats. Instead, he makes preparations to invade Syria.
• Gnaeus Domitius Corbulo strengthens the fortifications on the Euphrates frontier. He builds a strong flotilla of ships equipped with catapults and a wooden bridge across the river, which allows him to establish a foothold on the Parthian shore.
• Lucius Caesennius Paetus advances towards Tigranocerta, but by lack of supplies he makes camp for the winter in the fortress at Rhandeia in northwestern Armenia.
• Vologases I leads the Parthian army in a full-scale assault on the Euphrates, Legio X Fretensis and men of the other two legions (Legio III Gallica and Legio VI Ferrata) defending the eastern bank of the river, fighting off a desperate attack.
• Battle of Rhandeia: The Roman army (two legions) is defeated by the Parthians under king Tiridates I. Paetus surrenders and withdraws his disheveled army to Syria.
• A violent storm destroys 200 ships in the port of Portus.

By topic

Arts and sciences

• Lucan writes a history of the conflict between Julius Caesar and Pompey.
• The making of Still Life, a detail of a wall painting from Herculaneum, begins (finished in AD 79). It is now kept at Museo Nazionale in Naples.

Religion

• Paul of Tarsus is imprisoned in Rome (approximate date).

Deaths

• Sextus Afranius Burrus, praefectus preatorianus and good friend of Nero's tutor Seneca (b. AD 1)
• Aulus Persius Flaccus, Roman poet (b. AD 34)
• James the Just, brother of Jesus (martyred)
• Gaius Rubellius Plautus, second cousin of Nero (executed) (b. AD 33)
• Claudia Octavia, wife of Nero (possibly executed) (b. AD 39/40
• Lucius Caecilius Iucundus, Pompeiian banker (b. c. AD 20)

References