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Hadrian (A. D. 76 - 138)
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 Hadrian
: The Restless Emperor (Roman Imperial Biographies) by
Anthony R. Birley
Although his decision to abandon the
expansionist policies of his predecessors seemed to forecast the
Roman Empire's decline, this evenhanded biography demonstrates
that Hadrian (A.D. 76-138) was also an intelligent, energetic
ruler. With equal judiciousness ancient historian Anthony R.
Birley scrutinizes Hadrian's private life--including an unhappy
marriage and a devoted homosexual attachment--and his public
works, from Britain's monumental wall to the disastrous attempt to
Hellenize his Jewish subjects. Birley makes good use of primary
sources and academic monographs to create a scholarly yet
accessible narrative. (Amazon.com)
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© Andrea Marie Collins
Excerpt:
In 85 AD, Hadrian's life was changed by the
death of his father. The boy was left in the care of two
guardians, his father's dear friend Acilius Attianus and his
father's cousin, Trajan, who became Emperor in 98 AD. The
relationship between Hadrian and Trajan is open to speculation. It
seemed to vary between immense affection to near hatred. Since it
is oft said that the only thing that the two truly had in common
was a love of boys, it is possible though not proven that they
were in fact lovers and it has long been alleged that many of the
troubles between the two were caused by the boys they kept. It has
also been alleged, with less evidence, that Hadrian became the
lover of the Empress Plotina. While the two where very close, the
relationship seems to have been more similar to that of mentor to
student as the Empress was most well known for her learning and
love of history. There also seems to have been a maternal aspect
to the relationship as in letters, Hadrian refers to Plotina as
"my dearest and most honoured mother" and she to him as,
"my own dear son..."
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From The Knitting Circle
Excerpt:
Hadrian probably met his lover Antinoüs of
Bithynia (c111-130) in 123 AD. In 130 AD Hadrian and Antinoüs
were sailing down the Nile and Antinoüs drowned. There has been
much speculation as to whether Antinoüs made a sacrifice of
himself or whether it was an accident. After the mysterious death
Hadrian proceeded to deify Antinoüs. In Egypt Hadrian founded a
new city named after Antinoüs, and elsewhere in the empire the
youth was commemorated by cult, festival, and statues. Hadrian's
reign was marked by the flourishing of the neo-Greek manner in
art, one of whose most frequent themes was the Antinoüs type of
male beauty, echoed in coins and statues that are in display in
museums today...
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©1998 Larry D. Larsen
Excerpt:
Publius Aelius Hadrian (audio)
was the third of the great emperors to rule the Roman Empire. Hadrian
ruled from 117-138 AD. He was the first emperor to wear a beard,
it is said he did this to hid a childhood scar. He spent little
time in Rome, traveling throughout the provinces listening to the
problems of his citizens. The reign of Hadrian was at the height
of the Pax Romana, a time of great peace and prosperity. Hadrian
was an educated ruler and a patron of the arts.
Hadrian was gay, he had a homosexual
relationship with a young man called Antinous...
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HADRIAN'S WALL is the most important monument
built by the Romans in Britain. It is the best known frontier in
the entire Roman Empire and stands as a reminder of past glories
of one of the world's greatest civilizations. Designated a World
Heritage Site in 1987, Hadrian's Wall ranks alongside the Taj
Mahal and other treasures of the great wonders of the world.
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From the Ancient
History Sourcebook, © Paul Halsall, Janaury 1999
Excerpt:
The original home of the family of the Emperor
Hadrian was Picenum, the later, Spain; for Hadrian himself relates
in his autobiography that his forefathers came from Hadria, but
settled in Italica in the time of the Scipios. The father of
Hadrian was Aelius Hadrianus, surnamed Afer, a cousin of the
Emperor Trajan; his mother was Domitia Paulina, a native of Cadiz;
his sister was Paulina, the wife of Servianus, his wife was
Sabina, and his great-grandfather's grandfather was Marullinus,
the first of his family to be a Roman senator...
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Names Index:
A B
C D
E F
G H
I J
K L
M N
O P
Q R
S T
U V
W X
Y Z
| Authors
Index | Scholars
Index |
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