SOURCE: den Boer, W. “Religion and Literature in Hadrian's Policy.” Mnemosyne 8, no. 2 (1955): 123-44.

In the following essay, den Boer describes some of the difficulties in determining and reconciling Hadrian's views on religion, tracing them to three distinct phases in the emperor's development.

More than twenty years ago Rostovtzeff stated that the emperor Hadrian's reign, in spite of all that had been written about it, fully deserved a fresh monograph¹. The remark still holds good, notwithstanding the many studies, even extensive works, which have been devoted to this ruler since. Whenever Rostovtzeff's suggestion is followed Hadrian's religious policy will no doubt form an essential part of the new work. Recently discovered material (papyri and inscriptions) presents a number of problems which will have to be considered together with the literary evidence of the Vita Hadriani and Cassius Dio, to mention no more than the principal sources.

The emperor's personality...