The world in 47 BC — what happened that year

9 events the sources record for this year, grouped by region.

What happened

An earthquake struck Longxi commandery: the wall of the Taishang Huang shrine collapsed, the walls of Huandao county fell, and many people were crushed. (Book of Han (Hanshu), Imperial Annals 漢書卷009 元帝初元二年二月)

After seeing Caesar off from Syria, Antipater returns to Judea and first rebuilds the Jerusalem walls Pompey had torn down (Josephus, Jewish War and Antiquities of the Jews BJ 1.201–203)
Herod captures and executes Hezekias, the bandit chief who had been ravaging Syria (Josephus, Jewish War and Antiquities of the Jews BJ 1.204–207)
Caesar confirms Hyrcanus as high priest and makes Antipater procurator of Judea (Josephus, Jewish War and Antiquities of the Jews 14.143)
Antipater puts his eldest son Phasael in charge of Jerusalem and the 15-year-old Herod in charge of Galilee (Josephus, Jewish War and Antiquities of the Jews 14.158)
With three legions Caesar utterly defeats Pharnaces near Zela (Plutarch's Parallel Lives Plut. Caesar 50.2)

After Pompey's death Antipater helps Caesar in the Egyptian war and advances via Pelusium (Josephus, Jewish War and Antiquities of the Jews 14.130)
At the Utica meeting, Cato moves seats so that Scipio sits in the middle (Plutarch's Parallel Lives Plut. Cato Minor 57.2)
During an attack on the Alexandria bridge, an enemy ambush drove him onto a ship; he escaped by jumping into the sea and swimming. (Suetonius, Lives of the Caesars Julius 64)