February 26

in History

Nabonassar Era Begins — Babylon marks a new chapter in timekeeping

Babylon, MesopotamiaAncient

747

Nabonassar Era Begins

Babylon marks a new chapter in timekeeping

According to the astronomer Ptolemy, the reign of Babylonian king Nabonassar began on this day, marking the start of a new era in chronology. Nabonassar's reign became a reference point for ancient astronomers and historians, anchoring the vast sweep of Mesopotamian history to a fixed date. The era of Nabonassar connected Babylonian, Greek, and later Islamic astronomical traditions in a chain of knowledge that spanned millennia.

747 BC

Halina Konopacka Was Born — An Olympic champion with a poet's soul

PolandEarly 20th Century

1900

Halina Konopacka Was Born

An Olympic champion with a poet's soul

Halina Konopacka was born in Poland, a future Olympic champion and accomplished poet. She won the gold medal in discus throw at the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics, becoming the first Polish woman to win an Olympic gold. But Konopacka was more than an athlete; she was also a published poet whose verses revealed an artistic sensibility that complemented her physical prowess, making her a Renaissance figure in Polish culture.

1900 AD

Early 20th Century

1914

HMHS Britannic

RMS Britannic, the third and largest Olympic-class ocean liner of the White Star Line after RMS Olympic and RMS.

RMS Britannic, the third and largest Olympic-class ocean liner of the White Star Line after RMS Olympic and RMS Titanic, was launched at the Harland & Wolff shipyard in Belfast.

1914 AD