Sabina Augusta: An Imperial Journey (women In Antiquity)

This work aims to synthesize the textual and (massive) material evidence on the empress Sabina (born ca. 85–died ca. 137). The book traces the development of Sabina’s partnership with her husband, the emperor Hadrian (reigned 117–138), and shows the vital importance of the empress for Hadrian’s own aspirations. Sabina accumulated more public honors in Rome and the provinces than any imperial woman had enjoyed since the first empress, Augustus’ wife Livia. Indeed, Sabina is the first woman whose image features on a regular and continuous series of coins minted at Rome. She was the most traveled and visible empress to date. Hadrian also deified his wife upon her death. It is argued that Hadrian meant for Sabina to play a key role in promoting the public character of his rule, and that the emperor’s exaltation of his wife served to enhance his own claims to divinity. Yet the (sparse) literary sources on Sabina put the worst light on the dynamics of her marriage. There is a strong ancient tradition that Hadrian treated his wife little better than a slave, and forced her to suicide. The book fully explores the various (overwhelmingly negative) notions this empress’s life stirred up in historiography, and against the material record proposes a new and nuanced understanding of her formal role. This study of Sabina’s life sheds new light also more widely on Hadrian—including the vexed question of that emperor’s relationship with his supposed lover Antinoös—and indeed on Rome’s imperial women as a group. Sabina Augusta (ca. 85-ca. 137), wife of the emperor Hadrian (reigned 117-38), accumulated more public honors in Rome and the provinces than any imperial woman had enjoyed since the first empress, Augustus' wife Livia. Indeed, Sabina is the first woman whose image features on a regular and continuous series of coins minted at Rome. She was the most travelled and visible empress to date. Hadrian also deified his wife upon her death. In synthesizing the textual and massive material evidence for the empress, T. Corey Brennan traces the development of Sabina's partnership with her husband and shows the vital importance of the empress for Hadrian's own aspirations. Furthermore, the book argues that Hadrian meant for Sabina to play a key role in promoting the public character of his rule, and details how the emperor's exaltation of his wife served to enhance his own claims to divinity. Yet the sparse literary sources on Sabina instead put the worst light on the dynamics of her marriage. Brennan fully explores the various, and overwhelmingly negative, notions this empress stirred up in historiography, from antiquity through the modern era; and against the material record proposes a new and nuanced understanding of her formal role. This biographical study sheds new light not just on its subject but also more widely on Hadrian-including the vexed question of that emperor's relationship with his apparent lover Antinoös-and indeed Rome's imperial women as a group. Sabina Augusta (ca. 85-ca. 137), wife of the emperor Hadrian (reigned 117-38), accumulated more public honors in Rome and the provinces than any imperial woman had enjoyed since the first empress, Augustus' wife Livia. Indeed, Sabina is the first woman whose image features on a regular and continuous series of coins minted at Rome. She was the most travelled and visible empress to date. Hadrian also deified his wife upon her death. In synthesizing the textual and massive material evidence for the empress, T. Corey Brennan traces the development of Sabina's partnership with her husband and shows the vital importance of the empress for Hadrian's own aspirations. Furthermore, the book argues that Hadrian meant for Sabina to play a key role in promoting the public character of his rule, and details how the emperor's exaltation of his wife served to enhance his own claims to divinity. Yet the sparse literary sources on Sabina instead put the worst light on the dynamics of her marriage. Brennan fully explores the various, and overwhelmingly negative, notions this empress stirred up in historiography, from antiquity through the modern era; and against the material record proposes a new and nuanced understanding of her formal role. This biographical study sheds new light not just on its subject but also more widely on Hadrian-including the vexed question of that emperor's relationship with his apparent lover Antinoos-and indeed Rome's imperial women as a group. Sabina Augusta (ca. 85-ca. 137), wife of the emperor Hadrian (reigned 117-38), accumulated more public honors in Rome and the provinces than any imperial woman had enjoyed since the first empress, Augustus' wife Livia. Indeed, Sabina is the first woman whose image features on a regular and continuous series of coins minted at Rome. She was the most travelled and visible empress to date. Hadrian also deified his wife upon her death. 0In synthesizing the textual and massive material evidence for the empress, T. Corey Brennan traces the development of Sabina's partnership with her husband and shows the vital importance of the empress for Hadrian's own aspirations. Furthermore, the book argues that Hadrian meant for Sabina to play a key role in promoting the public character of his rule, and details how the emperor's exaltation of his wife served to enhance his own claims to divinity. Yet the sparse literary sources on Sabina instead put the worst light on the dynamics of her marriage Cover 1 Half title 2 Series 3 Sabina Augusta 4 Copyright 5 Contents 6 List of Illustrations 8 Acknowledgments 10 Abbreviations and Note on Translations 12 Introduction 16 1 “Empress” at Rome 26 2 Trajan and the Imperial House 42 3 Sabina’s Personal History 50 4 Hadrian’s Personality 60 5 Hadrian’s Relationships 72 6 Sabina ‘Augusta’ 92 7 The Journey to Egypt 120 8 Egypt and the Journey Home 150 9 Final Years in Rome 172 10 Sabina’s Death and Deification 200 Epilogue 224 Appendix 1. Sabina on the Coins of Rome 244 Appendix 2. Sculptural Portraits of Sabina 250 Notes 264 Bibliography 294 Index 312 List of Illustrations vii Acknowledgments ix Abbreviations and Note on Translations xi Introduction xv 1 “Empress” at Rome 1 2 Trajan and the Imperial House 17 3 Sabina’s Personal History 25 4 Hadrian’s Personality 35 5 Hadrian’s Relationships 47 6 Sabina ‘Augusta’ 67 7 The Journey to Egypt 95 8 Egypt and the Journey Home 125 9 Final Years in Rome 147 10 Sabina’s Death and Deification 175 Epilogue 199 Appendix 1. Sabina on the Coins of Rome 219 Appendix 2. Sculptural Portraits of Sabina 225 Notes 239 Bibliography 269 Index 287 Sabina Augusta : An Imperial Journey Synthesizes The Textual And (massive) Material Evidence On The Empress Sabina (born Ca. 85--died Ca. 137). The Book Traces The Development Of Sabina's Partnership With Her Husband, The Emperor Hadrian (reigned 117-138), And Shows The Vital Importance Of The Empress For Hadrian's Own Aspirations -- T. Corey Brennan. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. "Sabina Augusta : an Imperial Journey synthesizes the textual and (massive) material evidence on the empress Sabina (born ca. 85--died ca. 137). The book traces the development of Sabina's partnership with her husband, the emperor Hadrian (reigned 117-138), and shows the vital importance of the empress for Hadrian's own aspirations" -- Provided by publisher