BOOK: Hadrian

Hadrian's Wall, 120 AD, Britain

The Roman Emperor Hadrian’s (reign – 117AD-138AD) character always been hard for historians to pin down. At best he was complex, but more accurately he was a puzzle. Contemporary sources describe him as both This is not to say that things are not known about his reign, but when it comes to his character and personality much is left unknown. Hadrian left little of a “paper trail,” his memoirs, if they really existed, are lost. (And of course everyone knows about Hadrian’s Wall). Recently, British scholar Anthony Everitt in his book, “Hadrian And The Triumph of Rome,” tries with some speculation and some success to piece together Hadrian’s complex character and the times in which he lived. It’s been about a hundred years since a historian has tried to unravel Hadrian’s life. I believe that was Bernard Henderson's 1923, “Life and Principate of the Emperor Hadrian.” Still a worthwhile book to read by the way. (There was also in 1997 Anthony R. Birley’s, (1997) Hadrian. The Restless Emperor,” which I have not read). The strong point of Everitt’s book are his two assertions that Hadrian’s genius lie in his insight in ending Rome’s territorial expansion that had become economically untenable and in his decision to Hellenize Rome by making Athens the empire’s cultural center thereby flooding the empire with Greek learning and culture. The downside to Everitt’s biography is his speculation about Hadrian’s character, personal life and his love affair with Antinous. The fact is we just don’t know. There is circumstantial evidence, but still much speculation is required. To Everitt’s credit he does point that out. However, given what historians do know it seems that Everitt has made the best and most logical “guess” to date. Most likely what Everitt speculates about did happen, but the reader should keep in mind the uncertainty that surrounds this aspect of Hadrian’s life. Everitt’s biography is well written and interesting and a must read for anyone interested in the times of Hadrian and his immediate predecessor Trajan.