Hadrian

From Athens, Harry Papasotiriou writes: While I am not particularly familiar with this part of Roman history, I found your assessment that Hadrian ended up being hated by all somewhat too sweeping.  Hadrian was a benefactor of Athens.  One of the best-known lamdmarks in central Athens is Hadrian's Gate, which is said to have separated the old town from the new that he helped build.  Moreover, I was under the admittedly vague impression that Hadrian together with Trajan and Marcus Aurelius were the major rulers of the golden era of the Principate (second century CE).  

RH: The statement that Hadrian died hated by all was not mine. It was the judgment of a historian who cited the fact that he had condemned many nobles to death.  See B. W.Henderson, Life and Principate of theEmperor Hadrian. Personally, I think well of him. He built Hadrian's wall and the impressive Hadrian's villa, which he designed himself.

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