This Week: The Fall of Babylonia

Notable events in ancient history for the week of October 8 - 14

October 10, A.D. 19 - Beloved Roman General Germanicus died on this date. It is suggested that he was murdered on orders of his adoptive father, then-Emperor Tiberius, because of his jealousy over his son's burgeoning power and influence in the Empire. Germanicus was the father of future Roman Emperor Caligula.

October 12, 539 B.C. - The army of Cyrus the Great, the founder of the Persian Empire, conquered the mighty Babylonian Empire on this date. Cyrus also freed the Isrealites from Babylonian captivity, and they returned to their homeland.

October 13, A.D. 54 - Roman Emperor Claudius died on this date. Born in Gaul (modern France), he was the first non-Italian born Emperor. Despite a physical affliction that affected his faculties, perhaps Cerebal Palsy, he was a capable Emperor under whose reign the Empire saw its greatest expansion since Emperor Augustus, including the additions of Judea and Britannia. He also built 2 major aqueducts and the Roman port at Ostia. He died of poisoning, likely by his wife Agrippina.