Late March AD 125 – Hadrian returns to Athens and presides over the Great Dionysia (#Hadrian1900) FOLLOWING HADRIAN

After touring the Peloponnese and visiting all the most important cities (learn right here), Hadrian returned to Athens in late March, in time for the Nice Dionysia. He presided over this annual Athenian spiritual pageant devoted to Dionysus (HA Hadr. 13.1) whereas carrying Greek apparel (Dio 69.16.1), funded its bills and restored the Theatre of Dionysus Eleuthereus the place the pageant’s dramatic contests befell.

Hadrian presided on the Dionysia, first assuming the best workplace among the many Athenians,​ and arrayed within the native costume, carried it via brilliantly. Dio 69.16.1

The Dionysia pageant, established by the Tyrant Pisistratus within the sixth century BC to honour the patron god of theatre, was notable for its performances of tragedy, comedy, and satyr performs. A big single physique of residents gathered collectively over 5 days, starting on the tenth of Elaphebolion (late March within the fashionable calendar). The pageant opened with an enormous procession (pompe) via Athens to the Sanctuary of Dionysus on the southern slope of the Acropolis, the place bulls have been sacrificed, and a feast was held for everybody. Residents, divided into their tribes, introduced choices, together with phallic symbols, meals and wine. A sacred picket statue of Dionysus Eleuthereus was carried out throughout this procession whereas musicians and poets carried out their numerous arts. Choral competitions have been additionally held on the primary day of the pageant. Every Athenian tribe, represented by a refrain of fifty males and boys, would have competed in these dithyramb contests.

The subsequent 4 days of the pageant have been devoted to theatrical performances on the Theatre of Dionysus. Three tragic performs have been carried out every day, adopted by a satyr play. These performances have been evaluated by ten outstanding Athenian residents, who chosen one of the best playwright. The successful playwright was then introduced and awarded an ivy crown. On the ultimate day of the pageant, 5 comedies have been introduced. Initially, all of the performs have been new works, however by Hadrian’s time, audiences had come to choose revivals of masterpieces by authors resembling Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides.

Hadrian supported the normal spiritual cults, permitting the Athenians to proceed their pageant celebrations. Early in his reign, he raised the profile of the Larger Panathenaea, which had seen a decline within the variety of international athletes, and elevated it to sacred (eiselastic) standing. A decade later, he based three new panhellenic festivals within the metropolis: the Panhellenia, associated to the Panhellenion; the Olympieia, related to the cult of Olympian Zeus; and the Hadrianeia, named after himself. These 4 Athenian festivals now created their very own four-year cycle: the Hadrianeia within the first 12 months, the Olympieia within the second 12 months, the Panathenaea within the third 12 months, and the Panhellenia within the fourth 12 months (Shear, 2012). No different metropolis within the Empire, not even Rome, had as many video games scheduled in its calendar. These Athenian festivals attracted prime opponents to Athens, and the town benefited significantly from them.

The Emperor’s help for Greek agonistic festivals was multifaceted. He actively promoted these festivals and took part in numerous spiritual ceremonies and rituals, displaying his deep appreciation for Hellenic traditions. In line with Cassius Dio, Hadrian established festivals and constructed theatres wherever he travelled, whereas the Historia Augusta states that he sponsored video games and performances in lots of cities throughout the Empire and introduced performs of every kind.

Hadrian constructed theatres and held video games as he travelled about from metropolis to metropolis, dishing out, nonetheless, with the imperial trappings; for he by no means used these outdoors Rome. Dio 10.1

And within the theatre, he introduced performs of all types within the historical method and had the courtroom gamers seem earlier than the general public. HA Hadr. 19.6

Hadrian held a major presence within the Theatre of Dionysus in Athens even earlier than he turned emperor. The Athenians erected a bronze statue of him within the theatre after electing him as eponymous archon, their chief official, in 112/113, as evidenced by a statue base with a bilingual epigraphic inscription (IG II² 3286, see here) which commemorates his election to this prestigious Athenian magistracy. As archon, one in every of his duties was to supervise the Nice Dionysia pageant. Later, as Emperor, he presided over the occasion as agosthetes (pageant organiser), wearing Greek costume.

In response, the Council of the Areopagos, the Council of the 600 and the Demos honoured Hadrian with a sequence of statues within the cunei (wedge-shaped seating sections) of the Theatre of Dionysus. The statues have been supervised by members of the twelve Athenian tribes (4 inscribed bases nonetheless exist – see here). They have been positioned on the entrance of the twelve cunei, in the usual tribal order, beginning with Erechtheis (tribe I) within the westernmost wedge and ending with Attalis (tribe XII) within the easternmost wedge. The thirteenth and central cunei was occupied by the statue devoted to Hadrian throughout his archonship in Athens (Karivieri, 2002). Moreover, particular seats have been reserved for a priest of Hadrian related with Dionysus Eleuthereus (IG II² 5035) and a priest of Antinous Choreios who belonged to an affiliation of Dionysiac artists (IG II² 5062). The Antinous marble throne was located within the fourth place of the fourth part of seating, situated to the north, and was engraved on two separate events (source).

(This statue of) Emperor Caesar, son of the God Trajan Parthicus, grandson of the God Nerva, Hadrian Augustus (was erected by) the Areopagos Council and the Council of the 600 and the Individuals, the tribe Oeneis managing it.

The Theatre of Dionysos Eleuthereus was first constructed within the sixth century BC and underwent important modifications all through its historical past. The constructing suffered appreciable harm through the Roman invasion led by Sulla in 86 BC. Restoration efforts befell within the 1st century AD through the reign of Nero, which included the creation of a brand new two-story skene to interchange the previous construction (IG II² 3182). Nevertheless, based on A. Karivieri, it was Hadrian who constructed the monumental scaenae frons with reliefs depicting the lifetime of Dionysus. Hadrian assimilated himself with Dionysus in these reliefs. He was the New Dionysus (neos Dionysos), the brand new founding father of Athens.

Karivieri argues that the 4 reduction slabs on the western half of the stage entrance allude to Hadrian as Dionysus, the son of Zeus, and Sabina as Ariadne. The primary scene represents the second after Dionysus’ second start from the thigh of Zeus. On this depiction, Zeus is proven seated on a rock, trying in the direction of Hermes, who holds the new child toddler. Flanking the scene are two nude, barefoot males carrying shields and swords. The second scene illustrates Dionysus’ arrival in Attica, the place he imparts the data of vine cultivation to Icarius. The third reduction depicts the marriage of Dionysus/Hadrian and Ariadne/Sabina, with Tyche current, holding a cornucopia. The sequence culminates with a illustration of the enthronement, displaying Dionysus/Hadrian seated on a throne beside his new bride, Ariadne/Sabina. To the left of Ariadne stands a half-naked male determine, probably representing Theseus, the founding father of Athens, whereas a feminine determine holding a cornucopia, presumably Tyche once more, accompanies them.

Hadrian would write letters to the Athenian affiliation of theatrical artists (technitai) after his first imperial go to to the town, demonstrating his particular curiosity in supporting Greek musical and dramatic performances. First attested in Athens within the early third century BC (IG II2 1320), the technitai of Dionysus, which acted as an expert guild, advocating for the rights and privileges of their members and worshipped Dionysus, disappeared from the historic file within the 1st century BC earlier than re-emerging in Attic inscriptions within the 2nd century AD because of the eye of the philhellene Hadrian (Geagan, 1972). A number of fragmentary letters between the emperor and the Athenian theatrical technitai survive. One inscription, a fragmentary file of letters, information the correspondence between Hadrian, a priest of Dionysus Choreios (Dionysus the Dancer), and the Athenian Technitai. A minimum of seven letters have been inscribed on one facet of a stele (Face A) erected by Tiberius Claudius Attalos Andragathos, priest of Dionysos Choreios (IG II² 1105). All the inscriptions date to after AD 128 and talk about the organisation of recent festivals overseen by the affiliation, in addition to particulars a few associated dispute (source).

The Athenian synod of technitai was to honour Hadrian because the “new Dionysus”. A base destined for a statue of Hadrian was arrange by the theatrical synod within the precinct of the Temple of Olympian Zeus to rejoice its consecration in AD 132 (SEG 47.222). The Athenian technitai would proceed to be concerned with Hadrian after his demise via the festivals, competing on the Hadrianeia pageant, which included dramatic competitions.

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4 years earlier, in 121, the Epicureans had enlisted the help of Empress Plotina to acquire a privilege: the appropriate for the top of the Epicurean College at Athens to decide on both a Greek or a Roman as his inheritor (learn here). In March 125, whereas in Athens, Hadrian confirmed his earlier reply in writing, and his letters have been once more engraved on marble (SEG III 226 + IG II² 1097). The epigraphic doc consists of two fragmented and poorly preserved texts reconstructed by Simone Follet (1994). The primary letter is addressed to the Epicureans. Hadrian confirms his choice in 121 to grant them the appropriate to decide on a successor no matter citizenship with a will written in both Greek or Latin. The second and longer letter is addressed to at least one Heliodorus, the present head of the varsity and the successor of Popillius Theotimus talked about within the AD 121 letter. On this case, nonetheless, Hadrian denies a request from the Epicureans for brand spanking new buildings and costly choices, judging them as superfluous, as an alternative giving them a small sum of money for repairs to their gymnasium  (Follet, 1994). In accordance to Birley, it’s probably that the thinker Heliodorus was C. Avidius Heliodorus, a Syrian from Cyrrhus. He served as Hadrian’s secretary for Greek correspondence (ab epistulis Graecis) and was prefect of Egypt from AD 138 to 142. He’s also referred to as the daddy of the usurper Avidius Cassius.

Hadrian could have had contact with one other thinker from Athens at the moment, Secundus, also referred to as the “silent thinker”. Secundus is the topic of an nameless “Life” (Vita Secundi Philosophi), written in Greek on the finish of the 2nd century AD and later translated into Syriac and a number of other different languages. In line with the story, Secundus, who had chosen to stay silent ever since inflicting the demise of his mom, was despatched for by Hadrian, who was wanting to be taught from the thinker and wished to check his devotion to silence. He pressured him to speak: “Communicate, thinker, in order that we come to know you; for it’s not potential to watch the knowledge in you whenever you say nothing” (Perry, 1964). Secundus stored his silence earlier than the emperor, even with the sword at his neck, and was sentenced to demise. Secundus’s self-control impressed Hadrian, who ordered the executioner to spare him if he would persist in his silence. Secundus finally agreed to offer written responses to the emperor’s twenty cosmological and moral questions, all of which started with ‘What’s…?’

What’s God? A self-formed good, a picture of many shapes, an eminence too lofty to be seen, a conformation with many points, an issue arduous to grasp, immortal intelligence, an all-pervading spirit, an eye fixed that by no means closes in sleep, an influence recognized by many names, mild that prevails over all. (Translation from Perry, 1964)

What’s Dying? Eternal sleep, the dissolution of the physique, the need of those that endure, the departure of the spirit, the worry of wealthy males, the need of paupers, the undoing of the limbs, flight from life and the lack of its possession, the daddy of sleep, an appointed day certain to be met, the breakup of all issues. (Translation from Perry, 1964)

The story loved nice recognition all through the early medieval interval and was translated into dozens of different languages. Whereas the textual content gives insights into Secundus’ philosophical views, its authenticity as a historic file is topic to debate. All of it was presumably simply fiction, however a couple of genuine particulars could have been preserved (Birley, 1997). G. W. Bowersock associates Secundus the Silent with the Athenian sophist Secundus, who was the instructor of Herodes Atticus, as talked about by Philostratus (Phil. Lives of Sophists I.24), since each lived through the time of Hadrian. Nevertheless, this identification is uncertain.

One other account that has come all the way down to us via early Christian writings reveals that in Emperor Hadrian’s go to to Athens in 124/125 AD, two Christian apologists, Aristides and Quadratus, sought to deal with and defend Christianity to the Emperor. Their purpose was to exhibit that Christians didn’t pose a risk to the Roman Empire. The early church historian Eusebius information each discourses in his Ecclesiastical Historical past (Eus. HE 4, 3–9). These texts marked the start of Christian apologetics. Whereas only some fragments of Quadratus’s Apology have survived, we now have each Greek and Syrian variations of Aristides’s textual content. Jerome, one other early Christian historian, hyperlinks Hadrian’s involvement within the Eleusinian mysteries with anti-Christian persecution and the submission of the Apology of Quadratus, adopted by that of Aristides to the emperor.

And when Hadrian handed the winter at Athens to witness the Eleusinian mysteries and was initiated into nearly all of the sacred mysteries of Greece, those that hated the Christians took the chance with out directions from the Emperor to harass the believers. At the moment, he introduced to Hadrian a piece composed on behalf of our faith, indispensable, filled with sound argument and religion and worthy of the apostolic educating. During which, illustrating the antiquity of his interval, he says that he has seen many who, oppressed by numerous ills, have been healed by the Lord in Judea and a few who had been raised from the lifeless. (De vir. unwell. 19– 20)

Hadrian’s keep in Athens marked the start of a lavish constructing programme together with financial and constitutional reforms (mentioned here). Within the spring of 125, it was time to start out the journey again to Rome, however the Emperor meant to take the chance to discover numerous areas in central and western Greece alongside the way in which, together with Delphi and Nicopolis, earlier than sailing to Sicily to climb Mount Etna. It had been 4 years since Hadrian left the capital.

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