ROMAN emperor Hadrian meets his wall

News and Star Reports:

ROMAN emperor Hadrian never got the chance to inspect the wall that bears his name.
But a bronze head of him will get closer than he ever did when a special exhibition arrives at Tullie House in Carlisle next year.

The important historical piece, discovered in the River Thames at London Bridge in 1834, will go on show as part of ‘The Face of an Emperor: Hadrian Inspects the Wall’ from Friday, February 8 until Sunday, April 13.

Its visit will help celebrate the city’s rich Roman heritage and is the forerunner of a major exhibition – Hadrian: Empire and Conflict – which will run from July 24 until October 26 at the British Museum in London.

“Part of that is to lend out one of the main pieces of the exhibition. That’s where we come in,” said Cheryl Eastburn, Tullie House’s marketing and audience development manager.
“We have got this bronze head coming to Tullie House on February 2, which is a precursor to the main exhibition in July.”

Historians believe Hadrian’s head comes from a statue that may have been erected in London in about AD122 to commemorate his visit to Britain.

Cheryl said: “It is quite a large head – a stunning piece. Hadrian never inspected the wall, but his head is coming back to see what has been found so far.”

Hadrian’s Wall was, of course, built to keep the Scots out of England. Read More >>