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. 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 to Athens,… 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)
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)
Since November of 2017, the National Archaeological Museum of Athens and the Italian Archaeological School at Athens have been hosting a temporary exhibition called Hadrian and Athens. Conversing with an Ideal World in Gallery 31a of the Sculpture Collection. The exhibition marks 1900 years since the beginning of Hadrian's principate in August AD 117, an anniversary already celebrated in… Continue reading Exhibition: ‘Hadrian and Athens. Conversing with an Ideal World’ at the National Archaeological Museum of Athens (#Hadrian1900)
In the context of "The Unseen Museum" rotating-object programme and the temporary exhibition Hadrian and Athens Conversing with an Ideal World, currently on display in Gallery 31a of the Sculpture Collection, the Archaeological Museum of Athens brought to light two unique artefacts from its storerooms. Fifteen selected antiquities had already been displayed, and this time,… Continue reading Exhibition: ‘Hadrian and Antinous: an encounter, 19 centuries later’ at the National Archaeological Museum of Athens (#Hadrian1900)
Cape of Sounion, with its famous temple dedicated to the god Poseidon, is one of the most beautiful natural areas of Attica and one of the most impressive archaeological sites in Greece. In ancient times it was called Sounias Akra (edge) and was connected with the legends of Athens and the Aegean. Cape Sounion is… Continue reading Photoset: The Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion, Greece
Hadrian was a dedicated philhellene who admired Greek culture and did his best to be accepted and admired by the Greeks. He visited Greece three times as emperor (AD 124/5, 128/9 and 131/2), and he was especially fond of Athens. The philhellenic emperor did all he could to raise Athens to a special position in… Continue reading Exploring Hadrian’s Athens
In just a few hours I will be travelling to Greece in Hadrian's footsteps, retracing the journey he undertook in the province of Achaia in 124-125 AD. “Hardly any emperor ever traveled with such speed over so much territory” the Historia Augusta tells us. Surely Hadrian was the emperor who honored the provinces with his presence… Continue reading Following Hadrian in Achaia
