page_title: Terminus post quem
hierarchical_section_title: Terminus post quem
context_page_description: Terminus post quem and terminus ante quem specify the known limits of dating for events. A terminus post quem is the earliest time the event may have happened, and a terminus ante quem is the latest. An event may well have both a terminus post quem and a terminus ante quem, in which case the limits of the possible range of dates are known at both ends, but many events have just one or the other. Similarly, terminus ad quem is the latest possible date of a non-punctual event, while terminus a quo is the earliest. The concepts are similar to those of upper and lower bounds in mathematics.
context_section_description: Terminus post quem ("limit after which", often abbreviated to TPQ) and terminus ante quem ("limit before which", abbreviated to TAQ) specify the known limits of dating for events. A terminus post quem is the earliest time the event may have happened, and a terminus ante quem is the latest.  An event may well have both a terminus post quem and a terminus ante quem, in which case the limits of the possible range of dates are known at both ends, but many events have just one or the other.  Similarly, terminus ad quem ("limit to which") is the latest possible date of a non-punctual event (period, era, etc.), while terminus a quo ("limit from which") is the earliest. The concepts are similar to those of upper and lower bounds in mathematics.
caption: The coins of Azes II found inside the Bimaran casket provide a terminus post quem: for the coins to have been placed inside, the casket was necessarily consecrated after the beginning of the reign of Azes II.
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