172 BC

Millennium:	1st millennium BC
Centuries:	3rd century BC – 2nd century BC – 1st century BC
Decades:	200s BC 190s BC 180s BC – 170s BC – 160s BC 150s BC 140s BC
Years:	175 BC 174 BC 173 BC – 172 BC – 171 BC 170 BC 169 BC

172 BC by topic
Politics
State leaders – Sovereign states
Birth and death categories
Births – Deaths
Establishments and disestablishments categories
Establishments – Disestablishments

**172 BC in other calendars**
Gregorian calendar	172 BC
Ab urbe condita	582
Armenian calendar	N/A
Bahá'í calendar	-2015 – -2014
Bengali calendar	-764
Berber calendar	779
Buddhist calendar	373
Burmese calendar	-809
Byzantine calendar	5337 – 5338
Chinese calendar	[[Sexagenary cycle\|]]年 (2465/2525) — to — [[Sexagenary cycle\|]]年 (2466/2526)
Coptic calendar	-455 – -454
Ethiopian calendar	-179 – -178
Hebrew calendar	3589 – 3590
Hindu calendars
- Bikram Samwat	-115 – -114
- Shaka Samvat	N/A
- Kali Yuga	2930 – 2931
Holocene calendar	9829
Iranian calendar	793 BP – 792 BP
Islamic calendar	817 BH – 816 BH
Japanese calendar
Korean calendar	2162
Thai solar calendar	372

Events

Eumenes II of Pergamum travels to Rome to warn the Roman Senate of the danger from Perseus of Macedon. On his return from Rome, Eumenes II is nearly killed at Delphi and Perseus is suspected of being the instigator.

Since the reign of the Seleucid king, Antiochus III, the Jewish inhabitants of Judea enjoy extensive autonomy under their high priest. However, they are divided into two parties, the orthodox Hasideans (Pious Ones) and a reform party that favours Hellenism. Antiochus IV supports the reform party because of the financial support they provide him with. In return for a considerable payment, he has permitted the high priest, Jason, to build a gymnasium in Jerusalem and to introduce the Greek mode of educating young people. Jason's time as high priest is brought to an abrupt end when he sends Menelaus, the brother of Simon the Benjaminite, to deliver money to Antiochus IV. Menelaus takes this opportunity to "outbid" Jason for the priesthood, resulting in Antiochus IV confirming Menelaus as the High Priest.

The peace treaty at the end of the Second Punic War requires that all border disputes involving Carthage be arbitrated by the Roman Senate and requires Carthage to get explicit Roman approval before going to war. As a result, envoys from Carthage appear before the Roman Senate to request resolution of a boundary dispute with Numidia. The dispute is decided in Numidia's favour.