Face off with Emperor Hadrian

A bust of Emperor Hadrian is found just inside the entrance to the British Museum, originally found at the Villa Adriana, Hadrian’s country residence at Tivoli, near Rome, a huge complex featuring Egyptian, Greek and Roman architecture built in the early part of the 2nd century AD.


Though Hadrian was from a Spanish family he was born in Rome and served in the military and as Governor of Syria before becoming Emperor in AD 117. He visited Britain in AD 122, and this was when, as a result of recent revolts, he initiated the construction of Hadrian's Wall "to separate Romans from barbarians". He left Britain by the end of the year and did not return.

For more, see http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/highlight_objects/gr/m/marble_bust_of_hadrian.aspx