Year 173 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Albinus and Laenas (or, less frequently, year 581 Ab urbe condita). The denomination 173 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

<onlyinclude>

By place

Parthian Empire

• The first known session of the Mahestan (a noble advisory council consisting of Zoroastrian priests and aristocrats) is believed to have taken place during Nowruz (the Persian New Year) in this year, under the reign of Mithridates I of Parthia. This council later played a key role in advising the king and, at times, selecting or deposing monarchs.

Egypt

• Ptolemy VI Philometor marries his sister, Cleopatra II.

Roman Republic

• Dedication of the Temple of Fortuna Equestris.

Seleucid Empire

• Antiochus IV pays the remainder of the war indemnity that has been imposed by the Romans on Antiochus III in the Treaty of Apamea (188 BC).

</onlyinclude>

Births

• Antiochus V Eupator, ruler of the Seleucid Empire from 164 BC (d. 162 BC)

• Wang Zhi, Chinese empress of the Han dynasty (d. 126 BC)

Deaths

• Lucius Cornelius Lentulus, Roman consul and general

References