Decades: 310s BC 300s BC 290s BC 280s BC 270s BC - 260s BC - 250s BC 240s BC 230s BC 220s BC 210s BC

Years: 266 BC 265 BC 264 BC 263 BC 262 BC - 261 BC - 260 BC 259 BC 258 BC 257 BC 256 BC

• Antiochus II Theos succeeds Antiochus I Soter.
• The Chremonidean War ends.
• First Punic War: Appius Claudius Caudex leads Roman troops into Sicily
• Beginning of the year, Battle of Agrigentum: Carthaginian forces under Hannibal Gisco and Hanno are defeated by the Romans, giving them control of most of Sicily