Tag Archives: Roman Empire

Hadrian

2023 By in History Tags: , , , , ,

Among the Roman busts photographed in Berlin’s Altes Museum are some of the most fascinating figures of the Roman Empire – Emperor Hadrian, his beloved companion Antinous, his successor Antoninus Pius, and Marcus Aurelius, remembered by many from Gladiator. Their portraits reveal not only the faces of emperors and empresses, but also stories of power, philosophy, loyalty, and personal tragedy at the height of ancient Rome.

Emperor Hadrian, Old Museum Berlin | Kaiser Hadrian, Altes Museum Berlin | Empereur Hadrien, Ancien Musée de Berlin | Cesarz Hadrian, Stare Muzeum w Berlinie | Emperador Adriano, Museo Antiguo de Berlín | 哈德良皇帝，柏林老博物馆 | 皇帝ハドリアヌス、ベルリン旧博物館 | 하드리아누스 황제, 베를린 구 박물관

Among the photos of the Roman busts I photographed last year in Altes Museum in Berlin and posted last week, I found a portrait of Emperor Hadrian, as well as three other individuals close to him – his young friend and supposedly lover as well as his successor and second line successor. The latter you can remember from the Hollywood film ‘Gladiator’.

Let us meet them.

Emperor Hadrian, Berlin Altes Museum

Emperor Hadrian of Rome

Hadrian was born on January 24th, AD 76, in Italica, Spain. He was the third of four children born to a well-connected family. His father was a cousin of the future emperor Trajan, and his mother came from a prominent Roman family. Hadrian was educated in Rome and pursued a career in politics and the military. He served as governor of several Roman provinces before becoming Emperor in AD 117, following the death of Trajan.

As Emperor, Hadrian is known for his travels throughout the Roman Empire and his efforts to consolidate and secure its borders. He is credited with commissioning many notable building projects, including the Pantheon in Rome and Hadrian’s Wall in northern Britain. He also founded several new cities, including Antinopolis in Egypt, and was a patron of the arts and sciences. Despite these achievements, Hadrian’s reign was marked by controversy and conflict. He was known for his authoritarian rule and harsh treatment of political opponents. He also faced several rebellions and wars, including the Second Jewish War and the Bar Kokhba revolt in Judea. Hadrian died on July 10th, AD 138, and was succeeded by Antoninus Pius. His legacy has been mixed, with some historians praising his accomplishments as a builder and statesman, while others criticize his policies and actions as emperor.

Antinous, Hadrian's young and beloved friend, Berlin Altes Museum

Antinous, Hadrian’s young and beloved friend

Antinous was a young Bithynian boy who was brought into Hadrian’s court when he was just 13 years old. The two quickly formed a bond, and Antinous became Hadrian’s constant companion, accompanying him on his travels throughout the Empire. There is much debate over whether their relationship was purely platonic or whether it was romantic in nature. Some scholars believe that Hadrian and Antinous were lovers, while others argue that their relationship was more of a mentor-mentee or father-son dynamic. What is known for certain is that Antinous had a profound impact on Hadrian’s life. When Antinous drowned in the Nile River at the age of 20, Hadrian was devastated. He declared Antinous a god, founded a city in his honor (Antinopolis), and commissioned numerous statues and busts of his beloved companion.

Emperor Antoninus Pius, Berlin Altes Museum

Emperor Antoninus Pius, the Hadrian’s successor

Antoninus Pius was a Roman emperor who ruled from 138 AD to 161 AD, succeeding Hadrian. He was born on September 19, 86 AD in Lanuvium, Italy. Antoninus was a successful lawyer before becoming emperor, and he was adopted by Hadrian as his successor shortly before Hadrian’s death. During his reign, Antoninus Pius focused on maintaining peace and stability within the Roman Empire. He avoided expanding the empire through military conquest, instead choosing to negotiate with neighboring tribes and maintain friendly relations. He also implemented various domestic policies to improve the lives of Roman citizens, including the construction of new buildings and public works. Antoninus Pius was known for his piety and dedication to the Roman religion. He funded the construction of several temples and supported the Roman priesthood. He was also a patron of the arts, commissioning many sculptures and other works of art during his reign. Antoninus Pius died on March 7, 161 AD in Lorium, Italy, at the age of 74. He was succeeded by his adopted sons, Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus (two emperors shared power as co-rulers!).

Emperor Marcus Aurelius, Berlin Altes Museum | Kaiser Mark Aurel, Altes Museum Berlin | Empereur Marc Aurèle, Altes Museum de Berlin | Cesarz Marek Aureliusz, Altes Museum w Berlinie | Emperador Marco Aurelio, Museo Antiguo de Berlín | 马可·奥勒留皇帝，柏林旧博物馆 | 皇帝マルクス・アウレリウス、ベルリン旧博物館 | 마르쿠스 아우렐리우스 황제, 베를린 구 박물관

Emperor Marcus Aurelius

Marcus Aurelius was co-emperor with Lucius Verus from 161 to 169 AD. The two men were adopted brothers and ruled together as joint emperors following the death of Antoninus Pius. During their reign, they faced significant military challenges, including a war against the Parthian Empire and the Antonine Plague, which devastated the Roman Empire. Lucius Verus died in 169 AD, leaving Marcus Aurelius as the sole emperor.

During his reign, Marcus Aurelius was known for his administrative reforms, which helped stabilize the empire economically and politically. He also expanded the empire’s borders through successful military campaigns in Germany and Parthia. Despite his many accomplishments, Marcus Aurelius faced several challenges during his reign. He had to deal with frequent outbreaks of the Antonine Plague, which killed thousands of people across the empire. He also had to confront the Marcomanni, a Germanic tribe that frequently raided Roman territory.

While Marcus Aurelius is often praised for his philosophical writings and his efforts to reform the Roman Empire, his reign was not without criticism. One of the main criticisms of his reign was his reluctance to name a successor, which ultimately led to a succession crisis after his death (compare Commodus you could have seen in Gladiator, fiction but true in character). Another criticism of Aurelius was his tendency to prioritize military affairs over domestic matters. While he is credited with leading several successful military campaigns, his neglect of domestic issues such as inflation and corruption contributed to the decline of the Roman Empire. Additionally, Aurelius was not always successful in his attempts to promote Stoicism as a guiding philosophy for the Roman Empire. While he personally practiced Stoicism and wrote extensively on the topic, his efforts to implement it as the official philosophy of the empire were met with resistance from other factions, including the Senate. Finally, despite his reputation as a philosopher king, Aurelius was not immune to the corrupting influence of power. He was known to have engaged in political intrigue and used his position to punish political enemies, which contradicted his Stoic ideals of justice and fairness. Overall, while Aurelius is often held up as a model of Roman virtue and leadership, his reign was marked by both successes and failures, and his legacy is complex and multifaceted.

Roman Empress Annia Galeria Faustina Minor, Berlin Altes Museum | Römische Kaiserin Annia Galeria Faustina die Jüngere, Altes Museum Berlin | Impératrice romaine Annia Galeria Faustina la Jeune, Altes Museum de Berlin | Cesarzowa rzymska Annia Galeria Faustina Młodsza, Altes Museum w Berlinie | Emperatriz romana Annia Galeria Faustina la Menor, Museo Antiguo de Berlín | 罗马皇后小安妮娅·加莱里娅·福斯蒂娜，柏林旧博物馆 | ローマ皇后アンニア・ガレリア・ファウスティナ・ミノル、ベルリン旧博物館 | 로마 황후 안니아 갈레리아 파우스티나 미노르, 베를린 구 박물관

Roman Empress Annia Galeria Faustina Minor

Annia Galeria Faustina Minor (or Faustina II) was a Roman Empress, born in 130 AD in Rome as the daughter of Emperor Antoninus Pius and Empress Faustina the Elder. In 145 AD, she married Marcus Aurelius, who was then only his adopted son. Together, they had at least 13 children. Faustina II was known for her beauty and devotion to the goddess Juno. In Rome, she had many buildings and temples dedicated to her name, including the famous Arches of Faustina. After the Empress’ death in 175 AD, Marcus Aurelius declared her a goddess and ordered the construction of many temples in her honor. Additionally, Faustina II was depicted on Roman coins and medals for many years after her death, demonstrating her popularity and significance in those times.

Damnatio memoriae Emperor Domitian Berlin Altes Museum

Damnatio Memoriae

Julius Caesar symbolic grave, Forum Romanum | Symbolisches Grab von Julius Caesar, Forum Romanum | Tombe symbolique de Jules César, Forum romain | Symboliczny grób Juliusza Cezara, Forum Romanum | Tumba simbólica de Julio César, Foro Romano | 尤利乌斯·凯撒象征性墓地，罗马广场 | ユリウス・カエサルの象徴的な墓、フォロ・ロマーノ | 율리우스 카이사르의 상징적 무덤, 포로 로마노

Grave of Caesar

Constantine the Great, York England | Konstantin der Große, York, England | Constantin le Grand, York, Angleterre | Konstantyn Wielki, York, Anglia | Constantino el Grande, York, Inglaterra | 君士坦丁大帝，英国约克 | コンスタンティヌス大帝、イングランド・ヨーク | 콘스탄티누스 대제, 영국 요크

Constantine the Great

Hadrian

Meet the Romans. Seen in Altes Museum in Berlin

2023 By in Art and Artefacts, History Tags: , , , , , , , ,
Roman Empress Annia Galeria Faustina Minor, Berlin Altes Museum
Berlin Altes Museum
Berlin Altes Museum
Emperor Antoninus Pius, Berlin Altes Museum
Berlin Altes Museum
Berlin Altes Museum
Emperor Marcus Aurelius, Berlin Altes Museum
Berlin Altes Museum
Emperor Hadrian, Berlin Altes Museum
Berlin Altes Museum

Meet the Romans (people who have lived in ancient Rome, as not all of those on photos above were native Romans). From Caesars to ordinary citizens. The busts which you can see on the photographs you can find in Berlin at the Old Museum (Altes Museum) in the Roman collection on the first floor.

HADRIAN and his relatives
TRAJAN
DOMITIAN

The Altes Museum is one of the oldest and most significant museums in Berlin, Germany. It was built between 1823 and 1830. The museum houses a number of important collections, including the Roman Collection, which is located on the first floor. The Roman Collection is one of the most extensive collections of ancient Roman art in the world, and it includes a wide range of objects, from small figurines to large statues and architectural fragments. The Roman Collection was formed over the course of several decades, beginning in the early 19th century. Many of the objects in the collection were acquired through archaeological excavations carried out by German archaeologists in Italy, Greece, and other parts of the Mediterranean. These excavations yielded a rich treasure trove of Roman art and artifacts, which were brought back to Germany and added to the collection.

ALTES MUSEUM photo gallery
Meet the Romans. Seen in Altes Museum in Berlin

The Grave of Caesar

2018 By in History Tags: , , , ,

Grave of Caesar – tucked within the ruins of the Roman Forum – marks the spot where Julius Caesar was cremated after his assassination in 44 BCE. Today, visitors can still see the remains of the Temple of Caesar, built in his honor, and stand at the very place where one of history’s most pivotal figures was laid to rest.

Grave of Caesar | tombeau de César | Grab Cäsars | tumba de César | grób Cezara | カエサルの墓 | 凯撒的坟墓 | 카이사르의 무덤

Today is March 15th, the so-called Ides of March. On this day, 2,060 years ago (44 BC), a group of conspirators led by Brutus assassinated Gaius Julius Caesar, one of the most prominent historical figures of ancient times.

Julius Caesar | Jules César | Julius Cäsar | Julio César | Juliusz Cezar | ユリウス・カエサル | 尤利乌斯·凯撒 | 율리우스 카이사르

Julius Caesar was a Roman general and statesman who lived from 100 BCE to 44 BCE. He played a pivotal role in the transformation of the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire.

Caesar was born into a patrician family in Rome and received a solid education. He demonstrated exceptional military talent from an early age and quickly rose through the ranks of the Roman army. He served in several campaigns in Gaul (modern-day France) and Britain, becoming a popular figure in Rome thanks to his military victories and political acumen.

In 49 BCE, Caesar crossed the Rubicon River with his army – an act considered a declaration of war against Rome. He defeated the forces of his political rival, Pompey, and became the undisputed ruler of Rome. In 44 BCE, he was appointed dictator for life, a move widely seen as a threat to the traditional republican system.

The Roman Republic had a complex system of government with multiple branches, but over time, it became corrupt and ineffective. The political elite grew increasingly self-serving, while the common people became disillusioned with the system. In the late Republic, a series of civil wars and political crises further weakened the government.

Caesar introduced new laws to reform the economy and social system, and launched a massive building program that included roads, aqueducts, and public buildings. Despite these accomplishments, he remained a controversial figure, viewed by many as a threat to the traditional republican system.

This fear of his growing power led a group of senators to assassinate him. The assassination of Julius Caesar was the result of a carefully planned conspiracy involving more than 60 senators. At the heart of the plot were Marcus Junius Brutus and Gaius Cassius Longinus, both of whom feared that Caesar’s growing power threatened the future of the Roman Republic.

The conspirators chose the Ides of March – March 15 – as the day to strike. They lured Caesar to a session of the Senate in the Theatre of Pompey, under the pretense of presenting a petition. As Caesar took his seat, the senators surrounded him and attacked. He was stabbed 23 times.

According to ancient sources, Caesar tried to resist but eventually succumbed. His last moments became legendary – especially the phrase Et tu, Brute?, though historians debate whether he actually said it.

After Caesar’s assassination, his body was taken to the Roman Forum for a public funeral. The event was a grand spectacle, intended both to honor Caesar’s memory and to rally the Roman people behind his cause. His body was displayed on a bier in the center of the Forum, surrounded by wax effigies of his assassins.

Following the funeral procession, Caesar’s body was carried to the Field of Mars, where a funeral pyre had been prepared. The pyre was adorned with flowers, and his body was laid upon it. It was then set alight, and Caesar’s remains were consumed by the flames.

On the site of Caesar’s cremation in the Forum Romanum, a temple was built as a tribute to a comet that appeared shortly after his death. The comet was believed by some to carry Caesar’s soul. The temple was named the Temple of Divus Iulius, now commonly referred to as the Temple of Caesar.

In the picture below, you can see part of its ruins, traditionally believed to be Julius Caesar’s grave.

JMA_Cesar

Julius Caesar’s grave

JMA_Forum_Romanum_001

A view of the Forum Romanum from the Palatine Hill. The location of Caesar’s grave is marked with a black ring.

Caesar’s death plunged Rome into a period of political instability and ultimately led to the rise of his adopted son, Octavian, as the first emperor of Rome.

Octavian gradually consolidated his power, and in 27 BCE, he was granted the title Augustus, meaning revered one. Augustus became the first emperor of Rome and established a new system of government that was more centralized and authoritarian than the Republic.

Under the Roman Empire, the emperor held supreme power and was supported by a small group of advisors. The Senate continued to exist, but its influence was significantly reduced. The emperor was responsible for governing the empire and maintaining law and order. The military also grew in importance, with the emperor serving as commander-in-chief of the armed forces.

The transition from the Roman Republic to the Roman Empire had a profound impact on Rome and the history of the Western world. It marked the end of the Republic and the beginning of a new era of imperial rule that would shape the course of history for centuries to come.

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The Grave of Caesar