The year 508 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. In the Roman Empire it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Poplicola and Tricipitinus (or, less frequently, year 246 Ab urbe condita). The denomination 508 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.
Greece
- Athenian democracy in the city of Athens is established under Cleisthenes following the tyranny of Hippias. However, the Peloponnesian League led by Sparta viewed this new government as instable and thought it could possibly destabilize the region. So, the Peloponnesians supported a man named Isagoras who was competing for archonship with Cleisthenes. Isagoras won and exiled Cleisthenes, returning tyranny to Athens.
Italy
- A war is fought between Rome and Clusium.
- Clusium fights a war with Aricia.
- The office of rex sacrorum is created in Rome to carry out the religious duties formerly held by the kings.
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