THE EMPEROR STRIKES BACK
Emperor Hadrian, depicted here as a 2nd century headless statue wearing an elaborate breastplate known as a cuirass, may have well wished he was front row admiring the Greco Roman inspired accessories modeled on Alexander McQueen’s Spring 2006 runway…
Torso of a statue of the Emperor Hadrian • 2nd A.D. • Roman • July 1931 • Athenian Agora Excavations • Athens • Démètre Yancoglou • Image courtesy of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens
Emperor of Rome, Publius Aelius Hadrianus reigned over the Roman Empire for 21 years (117-138 A.D.). Portraits of the Emperor stood in every city of the Empire, often portraying him as a military officer. His armed figure served to affirm his ability as a military commander as well as to reassure his subjects of his ability to guarantee the security of the Empire. In several of his statues, Hadrian wears a cuirass that is easily recognizable as his own, so distinctly unlike those of other Emperors. It shows the Greek goddess Athena in its center, being crowned by winged representations of Victory. The goddess is shown standing on the she-wolf of Rome, who in turn is suckling the twins Romulus and Remus, the founders of Rome.
The first photographs of the Statue of Emperor Hadrian were taken during it’s excavation, after the statue was discovered in 1931 near the Altar of Zeus Agoraios. The ancient monument is believed to have been erected first on the Pnyx in the 4th century B.C. and later dismantled and re-erected at the turn of the millenium in its present location in Greece…
Torso of a Statue of Emperor Hadrian, Detail of the Cuirass • 2nd A.D. • Roman • July 1931 • Athenian Agora Excavations • Athens • Démètre Yancoglou • Image courtesy of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens
Detail of portrait statue of the Emperor Hadrian • 2nd A.D. • Roman • Circa 1932 • Athenian Agora Excavations • Athens • Démètre Yancoglou • Image courtesy of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens
Agora notebook pages highlighting the discovery of the statue of Hadrian • Athenian Agora Excavations • February 9, 1932 • Image courtesy of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens
Kate Moss modeling an ensemble from Alexander McQueen’s Spring / Summer 2006 collection • February 2006 • W Magazine • Inez van Lamsweerde & Vinoodh Matadin
Detail of portrait statue of the Emperor Hadrian • 2nd A.D. • Roman • Circa 1932 • Athenian Agora Excavations • Athens • Image courtesy of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens
Portrait statue of the Emperor Hadrian • 2nd A.D. • Roman • Circa 1932 • Athenian Agora Excavations • Athens • Image courtesy of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens
Portrait statue of the Emperor Hadrian • 2nd A.D. • Roman • Circa 1932 • Athenian Agora Excavations • Athens • Image courtesy of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens
The statue of Hadrian lying face down in the Great Drain • 2nd A.D. • Roman • February 5, 1932 • Athenian Agora Excavations • Athens • Image courtesy of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens
Detail of portrait statue of the Emperor Hadrian • 2nd A.D. • Roman • Circa 1932 • Athenian Agora Excavations • Athens • Démètre Yancoglou • Image courtesy of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens
Statue of Hadrian on its back • 2nd A.D. • Roman • February 8, 1932 • Athenian Agora Excavations • Athens • Image courtesy of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens
Natasha Poly modeling a bodysuit and cuirass - inspired belt at the Alexander McQueen Spring / Summer 2006 presentation • October 7, 2005 • Imprimerie Nationale • Paris • Robert Fairer • Image courtesy of Alexander McQueen : Unseen by Robert Fairer
Notecard from the Agora Excavation • February 9, 1932 • Athenian Agora Excavations • Athens • Image courtesy of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens
Statue of Hadrian as found • 2nd A.D. • Roman • August 1931 • Athenian Agora Excavations • Athens • Image courtesy of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens
Statue of Hadrian. Pentelic marble • 2nd A.D. • Roman • February 8, 1932 • Athenian Agora Excavations • Athens • Image courtesy of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens
T. Leslie Shear, director of the excavations, and Edward Capps, chairman of the Managing Committee, pose with the statue of Hadrian • Circa 1932 • Athenian Agora Excavations • Athens • Image courtesy of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens
Detail of portrait statue of the Emperor Hadrian • 2nd A.D. • Roman • Circa 1932 • Athenian Agora Excavations • Athens • Démètre Yancoglou • Image courtesy of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens
Detail of portrait statue of the Emperor Hadrian • 2nd A.D. • Roman • Circa 1932 • Athenian Agora Excavations • Athens • Démètre Yancoglou • Image courtesy of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens
Torso of a statue of the Emperor Hadrian as found • 2nd A.D. • Roman • July 25, 1931 • Athenian Agora Excavations • Athens • Démètre Yancoglou • Image courtesy of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens
Portrait statue of the Emperor Hadrian • 2nd A.D. • Roman • Circa 1932 • Athenian Agora Excavations • Athens • Image courtesy of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens
Detail of portrait statue of the Emperor Hadrian • 2nd A.D. • Roman • Circa 1932 • Athenian Agora Excavations • Athens • Image courtesy of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens
The first formal photographic portrait of the statue of Hadrian • 2nd A.D. • Roman • Circa 1932 • Athenian Agora Excavations • Athens • Image courtesy of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens
