Persians take Dura-Europos
A buried street preserved a synagogue and a church
In 256 Shapur I's army besieged the Roman fortress on the Euphrates. The defenders buried the street along the west wall under earth, preserving a painted synagogue and one of the oldest Christian house churches; in a siege tunnel archaeologists found Roman soldiers probably suffocated by burning sulphur and bitumen.
Wikipedia (Russian) · Wikipedia (English) · 3rd century
Meanwhile around the world (±25 years)
Europe
- 235–284 The Crisis of the Third Century begins — 21 years earlier
- 260–274 Postumus founds the Gallic Empire — 4 years later
Africa
- 249–262 Plague of Cyprian — 7 years earlier
Asia
- 280 Jin reunifies China — 24 years later
Americas
- c. 250 Rise of the Classic Maya cities — 6 years earlier
Oceania
- c. 232 Hatepe eruption of Taupō — 24 years earlier
Alive at the time
- Plotinus (aged 52)
- Zenobia (aged 16)
- Anthony the Great (aged 5)