The Arch of Constantine, dedicated on 25 July AD 315, stands in Rome between the Colosseum and the Palatine Hill at what was once the beginning of the Via Triumphalis. Its attic inscription commemorates Constantine's victory at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge on 28 October AD 312 over the tyrant Maxentius, who had ruled… Continue reading The Hadrianic Tondi on the Arch of Constantine
In 2016, the Israel Museum in Jerusalem hosted an exhibition titled 'Hadrian: An Emperor Cast in Bronze'. The exhibition was curated by David Merovah (Curator of Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine Archaeology) and Rachel Caine Kreinin (Associate Curator) from the Israel Museum, together with Thorsten Opper (Curator of the Department of Greece and Rome) from the… Continue reading Exhibition: ‘Hadrian: An Emperor Cast in Bronze’ in Jerusalem
The Forum Antique de Bavay, located in northern France, is currently hosting a small exhibition devoted to the book Mémoires d'Hadrien (Memoirs of Hadrian), a novel by the Belgian-born French writer Marguerite Yourcenar about the life and death of Hadrian. The exhibition sheds light on the genesis of Mémoires d'Hadrien and presents archaeological objects and ancient texts. It provides… Continue reading Exhibition: “Marguerite Yourcenar and Hadrian” in Bavay (France)
Hadrian and his travels have often served as the guiding thread for my travels. However, my recent trip to Turkey had a different focus, the Hittite civilization, with one of the highlights being a visit to the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations in Ankara. After dazzling at the magnificent artefacts on display on the museum's main… Continue reading The cuirassed statue of Hadrian from Ancyra’s theatre (Ankara, Turkey)
It appears that I will not be the only one celebrating next year: The Archaeological Museum of Seville in southern Spain is planning to host an exhibition in 2017 to commemorate the 1900th anniversary of the accession of Hadrian to the imperial throne. "Hadrian 2017. Metamorphosis: The birth of a new Rome." A colloquium entitled… Continue reading Seville to commemorate the 1900th anniversary of Hadrian’s accession to the throne (117-2017)
Happy 1940th birthday, Hadrian! For this year's birthday cake, I chose to cook Cato's recipe for savillum (a kind of cheesecake/bread). 🎂 Savillum recipe in Latin (from LacusCurtius): Cato’s De Agricultura 84: Savillum hoc modo facito. Farinae selibram, casei P. II S una conmisceto quasi libum, mellis P. et ovum unum. Catinum fictile oleo unguito. Ubi omnia bene… Continue reading Felicem diem natalem, Hadriane! 🎂
On 13 December AD 115¹, Hadrian survived a violent and devastating earthquake while wintering in Antioch during Trajan's campaign in the east. Hadrian had been in Syria since January AD 114 as imperial legate (envoy to the emperor) and, as such, had taken up residence in Antiochia ad Orontem (Antioch on the Orontes). The city… Continue reading The AD 115 earthquake in Antioch
The Temple of Hadrian at Ephesus is regarded as one of the most famous monuments of the ancient city of Ephesus. It lies on the south side of Curates Street, one of Ephesus' main arteries connecting the Gate of Hercules with the Library of Celsus. The remains of the Temple were unearthed in 1956 during… Continue reading The Temple of Hadrian at Ephesus, Ionia (Turkey)
The beautiful ancient Greek city of Aphrodisias, still partly excavated, is one of Turkey's most important archaeological sites of the late Hellenistic and Roman periods. The town was located in Caria in Asia Minor, on a plateau 600 meters above sea level. Today, it lies near Geyre village, some 80 kilometres west of Denizli. ---… Continue reading The Hadrianic Baths at Aphrodisias, Caria (Turkey)
No other Roman emperor travelled as much as Hadrian. He was famed for his endless journeys around the empire and we can say that Hadrian, with the exception of the years during which he remained in Rome (119-120, 126-127 and the final years of his reign), devoted at least half of his reign to the inspection… Continue reading My Hadrian 1900 project
