Following Hadrian

This book about the Roman emperor Hadrian is written by Elisabeth Speller, who has a degree in Ancient History from Cambridge University. Hadrian is famous for three things:

(1) Travelling all over the empire

(2) Building many monuments in Rome, Italy and the provinces

(3) Studying many topics, especially Greek culture and philosophy

Speller's focus is on the first item on this list, but sometimes she includes the other two as well. Her book begins with a chronology of Roman emperors (27 BC-AD 193), a timeline of Hadrian (AD 76-138), and an introduction. The main text is divided into nine chapters which follow a chronological line. At the end of the book there are notes with references, a bibliography, and an index. Twenty-one illustrations (black-and-white photos) are placed in a block the middle of the book.

As emperor (117-138) Hadrian spent more time travelling in the provinces than he spent in Rome or in Italy. Speller explains (on page 81):

“Conventionally, Hadrian is said to have completed three major journeys: broadly, to the north and west of the empire, to the southern Mediterranean and to the east. In fact these were interspersed with numerous smaller journeys to destinations closer to home.”

In 122 he visited Britannia, and during this visit he ordered the troops to begin the construction of the wall which runs from coast to coast and which is still known by his name. The journey to the north is listed in the chronology (page xix), but it is largely ignored in the main text. Hadrian's Wall is mentioned four times, but only in passing (pages 2, 3, 81 & 245).

In 128 he visited North Africa, and during this visit he adressed the Third Legion (Legio III Augusta) which was stationed in Lambaesis (in present-day Algeria). His speeches to the troops (in Latin: adlocutio) are partially preserved, because the text was cut in stone on a platform in the centre of the parade ground. The journey to the south is listed in the chronology (page xix), but it is virtually ignored in the main text.

For more information about the emperor's speeches to the army, please turn to Emperor Hadrian’s Speeches to the African Army by Michael Speidel (2006).

In 130 Hadrian visited Egypt, and this journey to the east is covered in great detail. We hear about Hadrian and his special "friend," the young man Antinous, who drowned in the Nile during mysterious circumstances, about his wife Vibia Sabina, about her companion Julia Balbilla, and about the visit to the huge statues known as the Colossi of Memnon which are still standing on the west bank of the Nile.

The title of the book is Following Hadrian. The subtitle is A Second-Century Journey through the Roman Empire. But two of his three major journeys through the Roman empire are virtually ignored. We hear only about the third journey to the east. In other words: the title and the subtitle are quite misleading.

This is a general problem. There are more problems when we look at the details:

(1) The name of he eastern province is constantly spelled “Judea.” As a classicist, Speller should know that the correct Latin (or Roman) spelling is “Judaea.”

(2) There is a mistake in the chronology (page xix). For the year 97 Speller says:

“Nerva adopts Trajan; Nerva dies; Trajan proclaimed emperor.”

Trajan is adopted by Nerva in 97, but Nerva dies in 98, and Trajan is proclaimed emperor in 98.

(3) There is another mistake on the next page. For the year 134 Speller says: “Hadrian at Rome.” But in that year Hadrian joined his army in the east, so the entry should read: “134-135: Hadrian in Jerusalem.”

(4) On page 14 the birth of Hadrian is placed in the wrong century:

“It was by no means predictable, on a cold winter's day in second-century Rome, even among the most affluent of families, that the squalling infant would survive at all.” 

Hadrian was born in AD 76, which is in the first century. By the way: we do not know where he was born. Perhaps in Rome, perhaps in Spain, where his family lived.

(5) On page 238 the Italian sea side resort Baiae is described as blandissima Baiae. As a classicist, Speller should know that the correct Latin form is blandissimae Baiae.

(6) On page 275 Speller claims Pliny's work Natural History was “written late in the first century.” But Pliny died in AD 79, while studying the eruption of Vesuvius, and therefore this phrase is rather unfortunate.

(7) A caption to an illustration reads as follows:

“Late Victorian engraving of the construction of Hadrian's Wall across the north of England in 121 CE.”

But Hadrian did not visit Britannia and did not order the construction of the wall until the following year, AD 122.

(8) In the chapter about the Jewish uprising in Jerusalem (AD 132-135) Speller mentions two of Hadrian's most trusted generals: Tineius Rufus and Julius Severus. This is fine, but three important figures are not mentioned here, even though they also played an important role during this conflict. They are:

* Certus Publicius Marcellus
* Quintus Lollius Urbicus
* Titus Haterius Nepos

This book gives an interesting account of Hadrian's life and career, but for reasons explained above I can only give it four out of five stars.

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Elisabeth Speller,

Following Hadrian:

A Second-Century Journey through the Roman Empire,

Oxford University Press, hardcover 2002, paperback 2004, 361 pages

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