Happy Saturnalia! December 17 marked the beginning of Saturnalia, one of the most popular festivals in Ancient Rome. The midwinter celebrations lasted for several days (the number varied over the Roman era), and it was a time of feasting, partying, playing games, gift-giving, and role reversal. It was the merriest festival of the year, and… Continue reading Io, Saturnalia!
On the news of Trajan's death and Hadrian's accession, embassies from every part of the empire were sent to pay homage to the new Emperor. They carried letters of congratulations, and each received a written answer, which would be taken home and proudly reproduced in stone for display in a public space. A letter of… Continue reading End of AD 117 – Hadrian sends a letter of reply to Hierapolis (#Hadrian1900)
Around the end of November 117, after crossing the plateau of central Bithynia, Hadrian arrived in Nicaea (modern Iznik), one of the most important towns of the Bithynian province. From Juliopolis, where he had stayed on November 11 (see previous post here), the imperial party marched west along the river Sangarius and entered Nicaea through… Continue reading Late November AD 117 – Hadrian arrives in Nicaea (#Hadrian1900)
After spending a few days in Ancyra, the Galatian capital (see previous post here), Hadrian continued to travel westward towards the Danube provinces. He reached the little town of Juliopolis just inside Bithynia on 11 November. Epigraphic evidence has revealed that Hadrian addressed a missive to Pergamum from Juliopolis, a formal letter of thanks to an… Continue reading 11 November AD 117 – Hadrian reaches Juliopolis in Bithynia (#Hadrian1900)
At the end of October 117, Hadrian arrived in Ancyra (modern Ankara, Turkey), the chief city of the province of Galatia. The Emperor was travelling back to Rome via the Danube region. He probably reached the Galatian capital by the end of October, as suggested by the itinerary inscription found in Rome (see previous posts… Continue reading End of October AD 117 – Hadrian reaches Ancyra in Galatia (#Hadrian1900)
On 17 October 117, Hadrian reached the city of Tyana, situated at the foot of the Taurus mountains near the Cilician Gates. Thanks to epigraphical evidence, a fragment of an itinerary found in Rome, we know that Hadrian left Antioch at the beginning of October 117 and travelled northwards towards Ancyra (modern Ankara). The inscription… Continue reading 17 October AD 117 – Hadrian arrives in Tyana (#Hadrian1900)
On 15 October 117, Hadrian crossed the Cilician Gates (Pylae Ciliciae), the most famous mountain pass through the Taurus Mountains. The new Emperor was travelling northward into Cappadocia along the Via Tauri, which runs across the mountain chain. We know from a fragment of an itinerary found in Rome that Hadrian left Antioch at the… Continue reading 15 October AD 117 – Hadrian crosses the Cilician gates and arrives in Cappadocia (#Hadrian1900)
At the beginning of October AD 117, Hadrian departed from Antioch, leaving the command of the province of Syria to Catilius Severus, who had just been installed as a legate. However, the Emperor could not return directly to Rome. He had received news of the uprising of the Sarmatian tribes who lived beyond the lower… Continue reading 13 October AD 117 – Hadrian travels back to Rome and reaches Mopsucrene (#Hadrian1900)
After the death of Trajan on 8 August AD 117, Hadrian drafted a carefully worded letter to the Senate in Rome. In this letter, he reported his accession to the throne and requested divine honours for his adoptive father, Trajan. Hadrian also apologised for assuming the imperial title based solely on the acclamation of the… Continue reading Late September AD 117 – Hadrian receives the Senate’s response to his letter (#Hadrian1900)
The Aquincum Museum, located in Budapest, the capital city of Hungary, is currently hosting an exhibition dedicated to Hadrian to commemorate his accession to the throne 1,900 years ago. The exhibition, part of Aquincum's "Hadrian's Year 2017" program, is being hosted in the old museum building located in the centre of the Archaeological Park.… Continue reading Exhibition: ‘Hadrianus MCM – History of an Ancient Career’ in Budapest (#Hadrian1900)
