496 BC

Year 496 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. 

 Events 
 By place 
 Greece 
 Hipparchos, son of Charmos wins the archonship of Athens.

 Roman Republic 
 The former Etruscan King of Rome, Tarquinius Superbus, who was exiled by the Romans in 508 BC, and his ally Lars Porsena, the King of Clusium, are defeated by the new Roman Republic army in the Battle of Lake Regillus, near Frascati. This battle begins Roman supremacy over the Latins.
 Carthage and Rome make a treaty.

 China 
 King Goujian of Yue defeats King Fuchai of Wu.  This made a short peace in ancient China during the Spring and Autumn Period.

 Births 

 Sophocles, Athenian dramatist and statesman (d. 406 BC)

 Deaths 

 Sun Tzu, military philosopher and author of The Art of War (b. 544 BC)
 King Helü of Wu, king of the Chinese State of Wu
 Lucius Tarquinius Superbus, the exiled last King of Rome