What remains of the Temple of Hadrian is located in the Piazza di Pietra in the rione Colonna in the center of Rome. Apart from one row of columns, not much remains of the building, but some of its decorations can still be seen in archaological museums in Rome and Naples.

A brief history of the Temple of Hadrian in Rome

Temple of Hadrian Rome (relief on base of column)
Relief on the base of one of the columns

The Temple of Hadrian was built by Antoninus Pius in 145 AD and of course it was dedicated to the Emperor Hadrian. Antoninus was the adopted son of Hadrian and his successor as Emperor.

There is very little left of the original building, except for a row of eleven columns that used to form its northern side. The architrave, which has been restored, was adorned with small palm trees and the heads of lions.

The entrance to the Temple of Hadrian used to be on the east side. There were 15 columns on each of its long sides and 8 on each of its short sides.

In the 17th century Carlo Fontana incorporated the remaining columns into what is now the Borsa (Stock Exhange) building.

The Temple of Hadrian in museums

The reliefs that used to decorate the plinths resting on semicolumns on the inside are partly kept in the Museo Archeologico Nazionale in Naples and partly in the Palazzo dei Conservatori (Capitoline Museums) and the Palazzo Massimo alle Terme in Rome itself. The reliefs personified the Roman provinces. Like Hadrian before him, Antoninus made sure the provinces were seen and treated as Provinciae fideles instead of captae. The Fideles supported the Empire of their own free will, captae had been subjugated.

Two of the personifications of provinces from the Temple of Hadrian, on display in the Palazzo Massimo alle Terme.

The reliefs date back to around 145 AD. The lady on the left probably personifies Thracia, a province in the south eastern Balkan area. This deduction is based on similar depictions on coins. The female figure on the right is wearing sandals and a diadem adorned with rosettes; the pomegranate and the bundle of sticks in her hands are from a modern restoration. The style of mantle and diadem, symbols of the priestesses of Isis, make it possible to identify this female personification with the province of Egypt. They can be seen in the Palazzo Massimo alle Terme in Rome.

Address, opening hours and admission

Address: Piazza di Pietra – Rome. The monument can only be seen from outside.

Piazza di Pietra – Rome