Special Display: Sculpture of Hadrian Drawn from Sea

In a world such as ours, overrun by visual stimuli, it is hard to imagine a time when rulers were virtually unrecognizable to their subjects, and a name held more sway than a likeness. However,  already in ancient times, some leaders acknowledged the importance of publicizing their physical appearances. Hadrian was such a man.

This striking portrait, the sole marble sculpture of Hadrian known to us from Israel, is exhibited here to the public for the first time. It was discovered in the Mediterranean Sea, as attested by the sandy sediment attached to the facial features. In all likelihood, it was produced in one of the major imperial workshops and sent by sea to an important Roman city on the Eastern Mediterranean shoreline, but due to shipwreck never reached its destination.

The head belonged to a colossal statue that must have portrayed Hadrian clad in armor as “Leader of the Roman Army” or as “Father of the Nation,” draped in a civic toga. The gentle features, worn by the abrasive sea, echo the official portrait guidelines for the emperor. The statue would have been erected in a civic center, raised to an imposing height on a decorative plinth incised with the emperor’s name and titles - an inspiring emblem of mighty Rome.

Ownership of the sculpture is currently being disputed, but for now, the display of the statue has been permitted. We are grateful to all parties involved for the opportunity to bring this remarkable portrait back into the spotlight - after two thousand years.