Hadrian statue, Antalya Museum
Carole Raddato
The larger than life size marble statue depicts Hadrian (from the Chiaramonti 392 type) in military garb including a leather molded chest covering (cuirass), a military cloak (paludamentum) draped over his shoulder and arm, a special belt (cingulum), a knee length garment (tunic), sandals, etc. His head is crowned with a tall wreath of oak leaves. (Source).
Perga was an ancient Greek city in Anatolia and the capital of Pamphylia, now in Antalya province on the southwestern Mediterranean coast of Turkey. Today it is a large site of ancient ruins 15 kilometres east of Antalya on the coastal plain. During the Hellenistic period, Perga was one of the richest and most beautiful cities in the ancient world, famous for its temple of Artemis.
In the reign of Hadrian, Plancia Magna, one of the most successful and influential women from Anatolia, undertook large remodelling projects in Perga, including a nympheum. She erected a number of statues depicting Roman emperors and their wives, from the reigns of Nerva to Hadrian.
