Hadrian as Mars

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Hadrian broke tradition by having himself deified while still alive. Prior to that, Roman emperors achieved divine status only after passing away. This image is modeled after Mars and Venus, gods of war and love, following a design possibly created during Augustus' rule by Pasiteles, a renowned Greek sculptor active in Rome at the time. The depiction of Hadrian is more idealized than that of Sabina. He's shown as a heroic nude, carrying military symbols of Mars: the crested helmet, baldric, two-edged sword and breastplate, placed on a tree trunk serving as a support for his figure. In this symbolic portrait, meant to promote imperial interests, Hadrian presents himself as the protector of Rome's peace and prosperity.