One thousand nine hundred years ago, Hadrian most likely celebrated the new year (year 871 Ab Urbe Condita) in Nicomedia, the capital of the province of Pontus and Bithynia in northwestern Asia Minor. After a short stay in Nicaea (see previous post here), Hadrian and his army continued to march towards Byzantium along the Gulf of Nicomedia.… Continue reading January AD 118 – Hadrian inaugurates the new year in Nicomedia (#Hadrian1900)
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)
The Aquincum Museum, in Budapest, Hungary's capital, 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. It presents various themes and… Continue reading Exhibition: ‘Hadrianus MCM – History of an Ancient Career’ in Budapest (#Hadrian1900)
On 25 August AD 117, two weeks after Hadrian's proclamation in Antioch, the new prefect of Egypt (Praefectus Aegypti), Quintus Rammius Martialis, issued a circular letter to the strategoi of the Egyptian districts (nomes) announcing Hadrian's accession to the imperial throne and instructing them to declare festivities for ten days. The document, written in Greek, has… Continue reading 25 August AD 117 – The announcement of Hadrian’s accession in Alexandria (#Hadrian1900)
On 11 August AD 117, news of Trajan's death in Selinus reached Hadrian, who was 41 and serving as the provincial governor of Syrian Antioch. The Syrian army immediately proclaimed its legate as Imperator. From that day forward, August 11 would be celebrated as Hadrian's dies imperii, marking the anniversary of his accession as emperor.… Continue reading 11 August AD 117 – Hadrian is proclaimed emperor in Antioch (#Hadrian1900)
On 9 August AD 117, Trajan's letter of adoption (litteras adoptionis) was made public when it reached Hadrian in Antioch. Hadrian was now Caesar. As mentioned earlier (see here), there had been some uncertainty about whether Trajan had adopted Hadrian as his son and successor before his death or if Plotina staged the adoption. The… Continue reading 9 August AD 117 – Trajan’s letter of adoption reaches Hadrian (#Hadrian1900)
