• 1822 — birth of Heinrich Schliemann (excavator of Troy, Mycenae)

• ludi compitales — day three of a moveable festival which might occur anytime between Saturnalia and January 5. It was largely a rural occasion involving woollen dolls being made to represent each free member of the household (simple woollen balls would be used to represent slaves) being hung up on the eve of the festival, presumably as offerings to the Lares. There would also follow more formal sacrifices at the compita (places where two farm paths crossed).
• 1906 — birth of Kathleen Kenyon (excavatrix of Jericho)

• ludi compitales — day two of a moveable festival which might occur anytime between Saturnalia and January 5. It was largely a rural occasion involving woollen dolls being made to represent each free member of the household (simple woollen balls would be used to represent slaves) being hung up on the eve of the festival, presumably as offerings to the Lares. There would also follow more formal sacrifices at the compita (places where two farm paths crossed).
• 1785 — birth of Jacob Grimm

• 43 B.C. — Octavian is granted propraetorian imperium and admitted to the senate
• 17 A.D. — death of Publius Ovidius Naso … a.k.a. Ovid
• 18 A.D. — death of Titus Livius … a.k.a. Livy
• 69 A.D. — dies imperii of Vitellius
• 1866 — birth of Gilbert Murray

… interesting entry in the lists of martyrs I consult … The Many Martyrs Who Suffered in Rome, commemorated today.