Hadrian, also of Spanish origin, succeeded Trajan but brought a vastly different outlook to the empire. He had served in the Dacian Wars under Trajan, but realized the empire could not defend itself if it kept on expanding, and he stopped the expansion and defined permanent borders to the empire, using Rome's military to strengthen those borders. He travelled extensively throughout the empire, traveling during 13 of his 21 years in power, and he was one of the most prolific builders in history, creating Hadrian's Wall in Brittain, Hadrian's Villa in Tivoli, the Pantheon, Hadrian's Mausoleum, today known as Castel Sant'Angelo, the Temple of Divine Trajan and the Temple of Venus and Rome to name but a few. He was fond of all things Greek. Hadrian was in love with a beautiful young man named Antinous, who drowned in the Nile while saving Hadrian's life.

    

Hadrian, in the National Museum of Rome - Palazzo Massimo
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Hadrian, in the Palatine Museum
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Hadrian, in the museum in Ostia Antica
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Portrait of Hadrian with idealized features, created after the emperor's death in 138 AD, in the Rotunda of the Museo Pio Clementino in the Vatican Museum
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Statue of Hadrian, on the main staircase of the Capitoline Museum
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Portrait of Hadrian, in the Halls of the Horti Tauriani and Vettiani of the Capitoline Museum
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Statue of Hadrian, as Pontifex Maximus, found in Santo Stefano Rotondo in the 16th century, now in the Atrium of the Palazzo Nuovo of the Capitoline Museum
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Hadrian, in the Hall of the Emperors of the Palazzo Nuovo of the Capitoline Museum
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Statue of Hadrian in the Great Hall of Palazzo Nuovo of the Capitoline Museum
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Portrait of Hadrian, from the area of Santa Bibiana near the Termini railway station, in the National Museum of Rome, Palazzo Massimo
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Portrait of Hadrian, from the area of Santa Bibiana near the Termini railway station, in the National Museum of Rome, Palazzo Massimo
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• Eight roundels on the Arch of Constantine were from Hadrian's time.
• Might be the one who rebuilt the Porticus Deorum Consentium in the Roman Forum
• Restored the Domus Tiberiana at the edge of the Palatine Hill overlooking the Roman Forum
• Began construction the Temple of Venus and Rome in the Roman Forum
• Built the Temple of Divine Trajan to memorialize his predecessor.
• Built the version of the Pantheon which we see today.
• Restored the Basilica of Neptune after the fire of 79 AD.
• Was honored by the Temple of Hadrian.
• Built the Baths of Neptune and the Capitolium in Ostia Antica.
• Built Hadrian's Villa for his own enjoyment.
• Commissioned the Pincian Obelisk to be built, and had it moved to Rome.
• Built Castel Sant'Angelo as his tomb.

• My Hadrian photos