Hadrian’s Athens

A walk through the influence of one great city to another.

Overview

Rome’s dominion over ancient Athens followed the end of the Hellenistic period and the gradual increase of the great power’s intervention in the eastern Mediterranean up to the 2nd century CE. Although they sieged and subjugated the city, the Romans admired and appreciated its lineage. Athenian aristocracy often became Roman citizens, and even some Roman emperors benefited the city and accepted Athenean citizenship. This included emperor Hadrian, one of the earliest philhellenes who visited Athens three times, founded a Panhellenic cultural cult, revised the constitution and fitted the city with a new library, gymnasium, aqueduct, as well as a whole new quarter, in an effort to revive Athens’ past glory.