Happy 1950th birthday, Hadrian! In keeping with tradition, I baked Hadrian a birthday cake. This year, I chose Cato’s recipe for savillum (a kind of cheesecake), one of my favourite sweet cakes from antiquity. This savoury cheesecake was served with Mulsum, a wonderfully sweet and spiced white wine, usually served before the main meal and therefore an… Continue reading Felicem diem natalem, Hadriane! 🎂
On January 24, AD 126, Emperor Hadrian celebrated his 50th birthday. This event was marked by the dedication of a small temple to the god Serapis (Serapeum) in the forecourt of the Luxor Temple (Roman Thebes) in Egypt. Modest in scale, the temple, discovered during excavations conducted by Egyptian archaeologist Zakaria Ghoneim in 1950-51, features a Greek… Continue reading 24 January AD 126 – A small Serapeum is consecrated in Thebes to Hadrian on his 50th birthday (#Hadrian1900)
In late spring AD 125, after visiting Delphi and possibly spending time in Dyrrachium (see here), Hadrian set sail for Rome, having completed a four-year journey across the western and eastern provinces. However, instead of sailing directly to Rome and embarking for Brundisium, he chose to sail to Sicily. This detour did not appear to have any political… Continue reading Late Spring AD 125 – Hadrian visits Sicily to climb Mount Etna and returns to Rome (#Hadrian1900)
Four years had passed since Hadrian last saw Rome, and it was time for him to return home. In the spring of AD 125, the Emperor departed from Athens and began his journey northward to the Adriatic port of Dyrrachium. Along the way, Hadrian visited Boeotia and Phocis, where he dedicated a bear skin to… Continue reading Spring AD 125 – Hadrian travels to Boeotia and Phocis and visits Delphi (#Hadrian1900)
After touring the Peloponnese and visiting all the major cities (read here), Hadrian returned to Athens in late March, in time for the Great Dionysia. He presided over this annual Athenian religious festival dedicated to Dionysus (HA Hadr. 13.1), while wearing Greek attire (Dio 69.16.1), and funded its expenses. He also restored the Theatre of Dionysus… Continue reading Late March AD 125 – Hadrian returns to Athens and presides over the Great Dionysia (#Hadrian1900)
Hadrian spent much of the winter of 124/125 touring the Peloponnese, visiting all the major cities and providing benefactions to them. The first part of his journey took him to Megara, Athens' old adversary, then to Epidaurus, Argos and Mantineia (see here). The Emperor then continued southward to the renowned city of Sparta before returning… Continue reading Winter AD 124/5 – Hadrian tours the Peloponnese (part 2) and visits Sparta and Corinth (#Hadrian1900)
After attending the Eleusinian Mysteries (see here), Hadrian embarked on a brief tour of the Peloponnese with his wife, Sabina. The Emperor's presence in several renowned cities during this period is well-documented, although no exact dates have been recorded. Wherever the imperial court went, cities benefited from the Emperor's generosity, as his desire was, among other… Continue reading Winter AD 124/5 – Hadrian tours the Peloponnese (part 1) and visits Megara, Argos and Mantineia (#Hadrian1900)
Happy 1949th birthday, Hadrian! In keeping with tradition, I made a birthday cake for Hadrian. This time, I decided to bake a Roman honey cake. 🎂 Ingredients: 3 eggs 200 grams liquid honey 50 grams spelt flour Instructions: Whip eggs with an electric mixer or a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Beat them until they are… Continue reading Felicem diem natalem, Hadriane! 🎂
Eleven years had passed since Hadrian last visited Athens. During his stay there, in his mid-thirties, he became an Athenian citizen, enrolled in the tribe of Besa, and served as archon (IG II² 2024) before departing to join Trajan's Parthian campaign in the East. He may have visited several cities besides Athens, but we have no… Continue reading Autumn AD 124 – Hadrian arrives in Athens and attends the Eleusinian Mysteries (#Hadrian1900)
After Pergamon and Sardis (see here), two other great cities of western Asia had their turn to receive Hadrian and his party, Smyrna and Ephesus. Both metropoleis were perennial rivals, competing for first place in the province and the coveted title of neokoros. Travelling with Hadrian was one of the most renowned sophists of his… Continue reading Summer AD 124 – Hadrian tours Asia (part 3), visits Smyrna and Ephesus and sails to Athens (#Hadrian1900)
