Who was Hadrian?
Q: Who was Hadrian?
A: Hadrian was a Roman Emperor from 117 to 138. He is well known for building Hadrian's Wall, which marked the northern limit of Roman territory in Britain. In Rome, he built the Pantheon, Castel Sant'Angelo (originally Hadrian's Tomb) and the Temple of Venus and Roma. He was also a humanist and lover of Greek culture in all his tastes, and one of the so-called Five Good Emperors.
Q: Where was Hadrian born?
A: Hadrian was born to a Hispano-Roman family, probably in Italica (near Seville).
Q: How did Trajan name him emperor?
A: According to his wife Pompeia Plotina, Trajan named Hadrian emperor immediately before his death.
Q: What did he do during his reign?
A: During his reign, Hadrian traveled to nearly every province of the empire. He sought to make Athens the cultural capital of the empire by ordering construction of many temples there. He also spent much time with military personnel and ordered military training and drilling to be more rigorous. Despite this fondness for the army, there was little military activity throughout the empire while he reigned.
Q: Who was Antinous?
A: Antinous was a common-born young man whom Hadrian met during his travels who became his favourite and probable lover. In 130 when travelling through Egypt on the Nile, Antinous drowned; as an act of grief for this loss, Hadrian founded a city called Antinoöpolis and asked that Greeks deify Antinous.
Q: How did he choose an heir?
A: Late in his reign when he had become ill, Hadrian adopted Lucius Aelius as heir but then died suddenly two years later; after this he promised Antoninus Pius that if Pius would adopt Marcus Aurelius and Aelius' son Lucius Verus as successors then Pius would be adopted himself as successor by him too - though this never happened due to his death shortly afterwards at a villa near Tibur.
Q: What other accomplishments is he known for?
A: Aside from building structures such as The Pantheon or Castel Sant'Angelo (originally known as 'Hadrians Tomb'), some other accomplishments include withdrawing from Trajan's conquests in Mesopotamia & Armenia & considering abandoning Dacia; plus stopping Bar Kokhba revolt in Judaea & renaming it Syria Palaestina
