3rd-century BC deaths

Euclid (; ; BC) was an ancient Greek mathematician active as a geometer and logician. Considered the "father of geometry", he is chiefly known for the Elements treatise, which established the foundations of geometry that largely dominated the field until the early 19th century. His system, now referred to as Euclidean geometry, involved innovations in combination with a synthesis of theories from earlier Greek mathematicians, including Eudoxus of Cnidus, Hippocrates of Chios, Thales and Theaetetus. With Archimedes and Apollonius of Perga, Euclid is generally considered among the greatest mathe

Ashoka, also known as Asoka or Aśoka ( ; , ; – 232 BCE), most commonly known as Ashoka the Great, was Emperor of Magadha from until his death, and the third ruler from the Mauryan dynasty. His empire covered a large part of the Indian subcontinent, stretching from present-day Afghanistan in the west to present-day Bangladesh in the east, with its capital at Pataliputra. A patron of Buddhism, he is credited with an important role in the spread of Buddhism across ancient Asia.

Chinese Confucian philosopher (c. 310 – after 238 BCE)

king of Iberia and Colchis

Manetho (; Manéthōn, gen.: Μανέθωνος, fl. 290–260 BCE) was an Egyptian priest of the Ptolemaic Kingdom who lived in the early third century BCE, at the very beginning of the Hellenistic period. Little is certain about his life. He is known today as the author of a history of Egypt in Greek called the Aegyptiaca (History of Egypt), written during the reign of Ptolemy I Soter or Ptolemy II Philadelphus (285–246 BCE). None of Manetho’s original texts have survived; they are lost literary works, known only from fragments transmitted by later authors of classical and late antiquity.

Megasthenes ( ; , died 290 BCE) was an ancient Greek historian, indologist, diplomat, ethnographer and explorer in the Hellenistic period. He described India in his book Indica, which is now lost, but has been partially reconstructed from literary fragments found in later authors that quoted his work. Megasthenes was the first person from the Western world to leave a written description of India.

thumb| Berossus () or Berosus (; ; possibly derived from ) was an early-3rd-century BCE Hellenistic-era Babylonian writer, priest of Bel Marduk, and astronomer who wrote in the Koine Greek language.

ancient Greek philosopher

king of Macedon from 297 BC until 294 BC, jointly with his brother Alexander V of Macedon

Greek philosopher and scholarch (died 270/269 BC)

4th/3rd century BC Greek general and historian

Aristyllus (; fl. c. 261 BC) was a Greek astronomer, presumably of the school of Timocharis (c. 300 BC). He was among the earliest meridian-astronomy observers. Six of his stellar declinations are preserved in the Almagest (7.3). All are exactly correct within his over-cautious rounding to 1/4 degree. See discussion (and lessons) at DIO 7.1 ‡1 p. 13 (2007).

4th-century BC Greek historian and tyrant of Samos

thumb|Ill. from De mulieribus claris Leontion (, ; fl. 300 BC) was a notable Greek Epicurean philosopher and student of Epicurus's Garden School. She is known for her authored work against Theophrastus, the head of the Aristotelian school. The manuscript she wrote has been lost over time, but it has been written about by many philosophers over the centuries, including Cicero and Pliny the Elder.

4th century BC Athenian comic poet

Iron Age bog body found in Denmark

Roman consul in five times (322 - 310 - 308 - 297 - 295 BC)

Roman consul 257 BC

Colotes of Lampsacus (, Kolōtēs Lampsakēnos; c. 320 – after 268 BC) was a pupil of Epicurus. He wrote a work to prove "That it is impossible even to live according to the doctrines of the other philosophers" () and dedicated it to Ptolemy II Philadelphus, in all likelihood meant for the Library of Alexandria. Although this work is lost, its arguments are preserved in two works written by Plutarch in refutation of it: "That it is impossible even to live pleasantly according to Epicurus", and Against Colotes. According to Plutarch, Colotes attacked Socrates and other great philosophers in this

Anniceris (; fl. 300 BC) was a Cyrenaic philosopher. He argued that pleasure is achieved through individual acts of gratification which are sought for the pleasure that they produce, but he also laid great emphasis on the love of family, country, friendship and gratitude, which provide pleasure even when they demand sacrifice.

Roman consul 258 BC

politician and soldier

Roman consul 281 BC

ancient Greek physician

son of Ptolemy III and Berenice

Roman consul 244 BC

politician

ancient Greek philosopher

Roman consul 238 BC

Roman consul 294 BC

mistress of Ptolemy IV of Egypt

Philotera (, born 315/309 BC-probably after 282 BC and before 268 BC) was a Greek Macedonian noblewoman and a Greek Egyptian princess of the Ptolemaic dynasty.

Ancient Macedonian general and geographer

politician

Thessalian military commander (usually employed as fleet commander)

3rd century BC Chinese Zhao state bureaucrat and general

wife of Antipater

Greek Peripatetic philosopher (c.350–c.275 BC)

Lachares () was a demagogue and tyrant of Athens at the turn from the 4th to the 3rd century BC.

ancient Greek philosopher

Ancient Macedonian scholar and officer

Concolitanus (Gaulish: "the one with big heels") was one of the two leaders of the Gaesatae, a group of Gaulish mercenaries who lived in the Alps near the Rhône and fought against the Roman Republic in the Battle of Telamon of 225 BC. He and his colleague Aneroëstes were hired by the Boii and Insubres in response to the Roman colonisation of the formerly Gallic region of Picenum. He was captured after the defeat at Telamon (modern Talamone, Tuscany). Aneroëstes escaped with a small group of followers and committed suicide.

Carthaginian general, Messana garrison commander

thumb | right | alt=Sarcophagus of Harkhebi Dynasty (664-525 BCE) | Sarcophagus of Harkhebi Dynasty (664-525 BCE) Harkhebi (ca. 300 BC) was an astronomer who lived in Ptolemaic Egypt during the rule of the Ptolemaic dynasty. He was known as the priest of Selket (the stargazer). He specialized in the treatment of snake bites and scorpion stings. He also kept record of day and night, tracking the rising and setting of the sun. This is how it was deduced in 1872 that he was present in the temple of Illahun.

Sicilian tyrant

Pantauchus () (late 4th century BC – 3rd century BC), (son of Nicolaus, from Aloros) was a Macedonian trierarch of Nearchus's fleet and general during the short reign of Demetrius Poliorcetes (294 - 288 BC).

governor of Gades