• A wandering band of brigands calling themselves the "Mamertines" captures the Greek town of Messana (modern-day Messina) on the island of Sicily, setting of a long chain of events that would lead to the Punic Wars and the eventual destruction of Carthage.

These people died in 289 BC:

• Chinese philosopher Mencius.
• Syracusan tyrant Agathocles.

290 BC - 289 BC - 288 BC

3rd century BC

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