Directory

23 BCE

In response to Meroë's incursions into Upper Egypt, the Roman legions move south and raze Napata. (History of Sudan). The Nubians, led by queen Kandake Amanirenas, take the initiative against the Roman Empire, and attack the Roman province of Egypt moving towards Elephantine. Herod the Great builds a palace in Jerusalem and the fortress Herodium in Judaea. He also marries his third wife, named Mariamne, the daughter of high priest Simon.

Geopolitics & Diplomacy

  • Ma'nu III Saphul becomes ruler of Osroene.source
  • Caesar Augustus becomes Roman consul for the eleventh time. His co-consul is Aulus Terentius Varro Murena.source

Conflict & Security

  • In response to Meroë's incursions into Upper Egypt, the Roman legions move south and raze Napata. (History of Sudan).source
  • The Nubians, led by queen Kandake Amanirenas, take the initiative against the Roman Empire, and attack the Roman province of Egypt moving towards Elephantine.source

Religion & Belief

  • Herod the Great builds a palace in Jerusalem and the fortress Herodium in Judaea. He also marries his third wife, named Mariamne, the daughter of high priest Simon.source
  • Augustus relinquishes the position of consul, retains that of tribune of Rome, and assumes that of Princeps, or "First Citizen." (see Roman Empire).source

Economy & Finance

  • Following coinage reform, the as is struck in reddish pure copper, instead of bronze. The denominations of sestertius and dupondius are introduced as large bronze coins.source

Health & Medicine

  • Augustus gets seriously ill: he gives Agrippa his signet ring and grants him the title imperium pro consule.source

Culture & Society

  • The Roman poet Horace publishes the first three books of Odes.source
  • The earliest documented instance of wrestling in Japansource
  • The Roman writer, architect and engineer Marcus Vitruvius Pollio finishes writing De Architectura (known today as The Ten Books of Architecture), a treatise in Latin on architecture, and perhaps the first work about this discipline.source

Births

  • Herod Archelaus, ethnarch of Samaria (Judea) (d. AD 18)source
  • Dong Xian, Chinese politician and general (d. 1 BC)source

Deaths

  • Marcus Claudius Marcellus (nephew of Augustus) falls ill from a fever shortly after his uncle recovers and dies at the age of nineteen while serving as an aedile.source
  • Marcus Claudius Marcellus, son of Octavia and nephew of Augustus (b. 42 BC)source