In 122, perhaps in late spring, Hadrian returned from the Danube to the Rhine. The last stage of his journey along the German frontier before moving to Britannia would have taken him down the Rhine to Colonia Agrippinensis (modern Cologne), the Hadrianic capital of Germania Inferior. One of his most trusted friends, Platorius Nepos, who… Continue reading Spring AD 122 – Hadrian inspects the northern frontiers: part 4 Germania Inferior (#Hadrian1900)
At some stage during his inspections of the northern military borders and fortifications, Hadrian was in the province of Noricum. The evidence for this visit derives from coins celebrating his official arrival (adventus) and, as in Raetia (see here), the army (exercitus Noricus). He may even have visited the famous iron mines that produced the highly prized… Continue reading Winter AD 121/2 – Hadrian inspects the northern frontiers: part 3 Noricum (#Hadrian1900)
After Hadrian inspected the military forces and installations in Germania Superior (see here), the Emperor visited the limes and the army troops of the neighbouring province of Raetia, now part of the German state of Bavaria. At the time of Hadrian's visit in AD 122, no legion was stationed in this area. Still, the province relied on its… Continue reading Winter AD 121/2 – Hadrian inspects the northern frontiers: part 2 Raetia (#Hadrian1900)
Happy 1946th birthday, Hadrian! 🎂 I baked a cake for Hadrian's birthday inspired by Hadrian's Wall and the HW1900 festival this year. 2022 marks the 1900th anniversary of the beginning of the construction of Hadrian’s Wall. Starting today on Hadrian's birthday, the HW1900 festival will celebrate this epic milestone with hundreds of events taking place along… Continue reading Felicem diem natalem, Hadriane! #HW1900 🎂
Shortly after celebrating Rome's birthday (see here), Hadrian departed for the northern provinces and began his first extensive voyage through the empire. As he intended to be absent for a considerable time with little idea of a return date, it was necessary to leave the control of Rome in trustworthy hands. Annius Verus, the grandfather of… Continue reading Spring AD 121 – Hadrian departs for the northern provinces (#Hadrian1900)
Every year, the Romans celebrated their city's birthday on 21 April, the day on which, according to early traditions, Romulus founded Rome by tracing the pomerium, the sacred urban boundary separating the city (urbs) from the country (ager). The celebrations were held during the Parilia, a rural festival associated with flocks and herds, which predated the… Continue reading 21 April AD 121 – Hadrian celebrates Rome’s 874th birthday with circus games (#Hadrian1900)
In the early year of AD 121, Pompeia Plotina, the greatly respected widow of Emperor Trajan, sent Hadrian a letter asking him to help the Epicurean school in Athens resolve an issue regarding the rights of succession. Under Roman law, the head of the school was required to appoint a new leader from among Roman… Continue reading Early AD 121 – Plotina writes to Hadrian on behalf of the Epicurean school in Athens (#Hadrian1900)
On 18 February AD 121, Titus Haterius Nepos, the prefect of Egypt, visited the Colossus of Memnon at the Theban necropolis and heard the statue sing. Nepos immortalised his encounter by inscribing his name upon the statue's right leg. In a five-line text written in Latin, Nepos attests that he heard Memnon an hour and a… Continue reading 18 February AD 121 – Titus Haterius Nepos, the prefect of Egypt, visits the Memnon Colossus (#Hadrian1900)
Hadrian's deep concern with consolidating and defining the Empire started very early in his reign. Upon ascending the throne, the new emperor abandoned Trajan's newly conquered provinces beyond the Euphrates and rapidly took the opportunity to carry out his new frontier policy. On his way back to Rome, he first embarked on a quick inspection… Continue reading AD 120 – The army erects a wooden palisade on the German frontier (#Hadrian1900)
Between 10 December 10 AD 118 and 9 December AD 119, the river boatmen of the Rhône, known as the nautae Rhodanici, made an offering to their indulgentissimus princeps Hadrian (CIL XII, 1797). They erected a statue of the emperor in the town of Tournus (Tournon-sur-Rhône) between Valencia (Valence) and Vienna (Vienne) at the confluence… Continue reading AD 119 – The boatmen of the Rhône River erect a statue in honour of Hadrian (#Hadrian1900)
