Hadrian was the third of the "Five Good Emperors," although, according to Elizabeth Speller, he was the first emperor whose assessment moved beyond the stereotype of good and bad emperors.
Hadrian was born in Rome and was the son of Publius Aelius Hadrianus Afer, a cousin of Trajan, from Italica in Hispania Baetica.
To maintain morale and keep the troops from getting restless, Hadrian established intensive drill routines, and personally inspected the armies.
Hadrian had reached Athens, which was in the midst of a Dionysian Festival.
Hadrian was especially famous for his love relationship with a Greek youth, Antinous.
Hadrian is perhaps most famous for the construction of this wall, whose ruins still span many miles and to date bear his name.
The climax of this tour was indeed the destination that the hellenophile Hadrian must all along have had in mind: Greece.
Hadrian fell ill around this time, though the nature of his sickness is not known.
Hadrian was schooled in various subjects common to young aristocrats of the day and was so fond of learning Greek literature that he was nicknamed Graeculus ("Little Greek").
Trajan never officially designated a successor, but, according to his wife Plotina, Trajan named Hadrian emperor immediately before his death.
Hadrian had contemplated the idea of focusing his Greek revival round Amphictyonic League based in Delphi, but he had by now decided on something far grander.
Being effectively reduced to the status of mere provinces did not sit well with the citizens and this innovation did not long outlive Hadrian (Birley, 1997).
Prior to Hadrian's arrival in Great Britain, there had been a major rebellion in Britannia, spanning roughly two years (119 C.E.–121 C.E.).
Despite his own excellence as a military administrator, Hadrian's reign was marked by a general lack of major military conflicts.
The new temple would be dedicated to Trajan and Hadrian and built with dazzling white marble (Birley, 1997).
Some historians dispute whether Hadrian did in fact commission the city's construction at all.
Hadrian took his architectural designs very seriously, but it seems no one else did.
Hadrian's army eventually defeated the revolt and continued the religious persecution of Jews, according to the Babylonian Talmud.
Various rulers had done work on building a temple to Olympian Zeus, but it was Hadrian who ensured that the job would be finished.
More questionable was Hadrian's personal life, in which he maintained a pederastic relationship of such intensity that he ordered his lover deified, and had temples built for his worship throughout the empire.
The pumpkins referred to Hadrian's drawings of domes like the Serapeum in his Villa.
Once Hadrian succeeded Trajan and became emperor, he had Apollodorus exiled and later put to death.
The real source of Hadrian's legitimacy arose from the endorsement of the armies of Syria and the senate ratification.
Hadrian realized that the Caledonians would refuse to cohabitate with the Romans.
Upon the completion of the Tomb of Hadrian in Rome in 139 C.E.
resulted in Hadrian's edict banning the Jews from living in Palestine, the name of which was changed to Syria Palestine.
Hadrian joined Trajan's expedition against Parthia as a legate on Trajan’s staff (Birley, 1997).
Hadrian was renowned for his public speaking ability and also for his knowledge of philosophy.
The most famous Olympic athlete lived in the sixth century B.C.E., wrestler Milo of Croton, the only athlete in history to win a victory in six Olympics.
Hadrian, by contrast, traveled as a fundamental part of his governing, and made this clear to the Roman Senate and the people.
Hadrian drew the whole Empire into his mourning, making Antinous the last new god of antiquity.
Hadrian's visits were marked by handouts which often contained instructions for the construction of new public buildings.
Sources say nothing about when Hadrian met Antinous, but there are depictions of Antinous that show him as a young man of 20 or so.
Having set in motion the preparations,Hadrian set off for Ephesus (Birley, 1997).
Like many emperors before him, Hadrian's will was almost always obeyed.
Various incidents are described, such as his founding of a city within Mysia, Hadrianutherae, after a successful boar hunt.
Instead, Attianus, Hadrian's former guardian, was put in charge in Rome.
When Trajan consulted Apollodorus about an architectural problem, Hadrian interrupted to give advice to which Apollodorus replied, "Go away and draw your pumpkins.
When Hadrian arrived on the Euphrates, he characteristically solved the problem through a negotiated settlement with the Parthian King (probably Chosroes).
Hadrian quickly secured the support of the legions—one potential opponent, Lusius Quietus, was instantly dismissed (Lambert, 1997).
Hadrian (/ˈheɪdriən/; Latin: Publius Aelius Hadrianus Augustus; 24 January 76 – 10 July 138) was Roman emperor from 117 to 138.
Marble bust of Hadrian at the Palazzo dei Conservatori, Capitoline Museums. Hadrian (/ˈheɪdriən/; Latin: Publius Aelius Hadrianus Augustus; 24 January 76 – 10 July 138) was Roman emperor from 117 to 138. ... He is known for building Hadrian's Wall, which marked the northern limit of Britannia.