Let’s meet the man: a Face of Power?
Figure 1: Bust of Hadrian from the Capitoline museum. Credit: Stefan Dingemans
At its zenith, the Roman empire was the pinnacle of power across the ancient Mediterranean world. At its head stood the figure of the emperor, who epitomized the empire’s power and authority. From large monuments to the smallest of coins, images of the emperor were used to spread and enforce ideological messages far and wide. The face of power that we see on this coin is one such emperor, Caesar Traianus Hadrianus Augustus, or more simply known as emperor Hadrian who ruled the Roman empire from 117-138 CE. So who was the man on the coin?
Hadrian started his ascent to power during the reign of Nerva and later Trajan, his “cousin”. At this time in Rome, the role of emperor was not hereditary. Although there is no doubt that nepotism (and a “good” marriage) played a part, meritocracy seems to have some role in the choice of Hadrian as successor.
Hadrian is considered to be one of the “Good Emperors” that ruled over the Roman empire from the Nerva-Antonine dynasty. Venerated as a man of learning and culture, Hadrian was known for his particular interest in Greek culture and philosophy. This is noticeable from the presence of his beard on his coinage. More on this later.
Hadrian’s reign marks the epoch of the Empire. During his reign, the empire extended from modern day Portugal to Syria and from Egypt in the South to England in the North. The extent of his rule was felt all over the empire. He undertook vast building projects and was extremely influential in shaping not only the city of Rome, but the landscape all across the empire. Hadrian’s Wall, for instance, is just one of many striking ways in which the power of the emperor was emphasized across the extent of the Roman empire. As we will explore in our story, he managed this not just by buildings and coinage, but also by touring through his vast empire.