23 BC

Year 23 BC was either a common year starting on Saturday or Sunday or a leap year starting on Friday, Saturday or Sunday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Augustus and Varro.

Events
 Caesar Augustus becomes Roman Consul for the eleventh time. His partner is Aulus Terentius Varro Murena.
 Augustus becomes very ill.  He gives Agrippa his signet ring.
 The Nubians, led by queen Candace Amanirenas, attack the Roman province of Egypt 
 Herod the Great builds a palace in Jerusalem 
 The as coin was struck in reddish pure copper, instead of bronze
 Ma'nu III Saphul becomes ruler of Osroene
 The Roman writer, architect and engineer Vitruvius finishes writing De Architectura.  It is perhaps the first book on architecture.
 Roman poet Horace publishes the first three books of Odes

 Births 

 Dong Xian (d. 1 BC)
 Herod Archelaus, ethnarch of Samaria (d. AD 18)

 Deaths 

 Marcus Claudius Marcellus, son of Octavia and nephew of Augustus (b. 42 BC)