497 Explained

Year 497 (CDXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Anastasius without colleague (or, less frequently, year 1250 Ab urbe condita). The denomination 497 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

Byzantine Empire

• Emperor Anastasius I gives formal recognition to the Ostrogoth king Theodoric the Great, as his representative (viceroy) in Italy.^[1] He sends the imperial standard to Ravenna. Theodoric respects the agreement and allows Roman citizens within the Ostrogothic Kingdom to be subject to Roman law.
• Isaurian War: Anastasius I regains control of the Isauria region (Asia Minor) and has the rebel leaders executed. Anastasius I pacifies the mountain strongholds of the Isaurians, ending the revolt that they began upon his ascension to the throne 6 years ago.

China

• The Shaolin Temple (Henan) is founded (according to the Jiaqing Chongxiu Yitongzhi). (For alternate founding date, see 477 or 495).
• Emperor Xiaowen of Northern Wei fought several battles ^[2]

By topic

Arts and sciences

• Aryabhata, Indian astronomer and mathematician, calculates pi (π) as ≈ 62832/20000 = 3.1416, correct to four rounded-off decimal places.

Literature

• The Ambrosian Iliad, an Illuminated manuscript on vellum, of the Iliad of Homer, is produced in Constantinople (approximate date).

Births

• Abdul Mutallib, grandfather of Islamic prophet Mohammed (d. 578) ^[3]
• Cadoc, Welsh abbot, saint (approximate date)
• Chlothar I, king of the Franks (d. 561)
• Wei Jie, Chinese scholar (d. 569) ^[4]

Deaths

• Hashim ibn 'Abd Manaf, great-grandfather of Mohammed
• Longinus of Cardala, Isaurian official, rebel leader
• Crown Prince Yuan Xun of Northern Wei (b. 483)

Notes and References

1. Book: History of the World in 1,000 Objects. 408. 2014. DK Publishing. 9781465436634. 18 September 2025.
2. Book: Ma, Boying . 373. History Of Medicine In Chinese Culture, A (In 2 Volumes). 2020. 9789813238008. 18 September 2025.
3. Book: Mustafa Al-Azami, Muhammad . The History of The Quranic Text: from Revelation to Compilation: A Comparative Study with the Old and New Testaments. 2008. 9781906949655. 18 September 2025.
4. Book: Kohn, Livia . 137. Early Chinese Mysticism: Philosophy and Soteriology in the Taoist Tradition. 2020. 9781400844463. Princeton University Press . 18 September 2025.