The bronze head of Hadrian, dated to 2nd century AD, was found
in the Thames near London in 1834.
This powerful portrait that inspired Marguerite Yourcenar’s
novel Memoirs of Hadrian (1951), left the British Museum for
the first time to travel to both ends of Hadrian’s Wall ahead of
the British Museum exhibition Hadrian: Empire and
Conflict, 24 July – 26 October 2008.
Supported by BP
See where the loan went on the map to the right.