385 BC

Year 385 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Tribunate of Capitolinus, Cornelius, Capitolinus, Papirius, Capitolinus and Fidenas (or, less frequently, year 369 Ab urbe condita). The denomination 385 BC for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.

Events

By place

Greece

• Jason of Pherae becomes tyrant of Thessaly.
• Dionysius I of Syracuse attempts to restore Alcetas I of Epirus to the throne.
• Bardyllis becomes king of Illyria and the Dardani and establishes the Bardyllian Dynasty.
• Mantinea gets destroyed by Sparta and their subdued thebans allies.

By topic

Education

• Plato forms his Academy, teaching mathematics, astronomy and other sciences as well as philosophy. It is dedicated to the Attic hero Academus. Philanthropists bear all costs; students pay no fees.

Astronomy

• Democritus announces that the Milky Way is composed of many stars.

Births

• Mentor of Rhodes, Greek mercenary and satrap (approximate date)

Deaths

• Camissares, Persian satrap of Cilicia
• Chuzi II, Chinese ruler of the Zhou Dynasty (approximate date)