There are only few written documents on the life of EMPEROR HADRIAN, not very satisfactory and dating from later times (STEWART PEROWNE: HADRIAN). We've got some notices from his autobiography and from DIO. Contemporary sources are lacking.
From the 4th century we have the well-known HISTORIA AUGUSTA, whose prototype are the VITAE CAESARUM of SUETONIUS, a witty author of the 2nd century. SUETONIUS was-by the way-one of HADRIAN'S SECRETARIES! The only other writer dealing with HADRIAN was CASSIUS DIO, who wrote a HISTORY OF ROME in 80 books (AD 200). Unfortunately, we don't have this part of his work (book 69) containing HADRIAN'S life. This lacking part is only transmitted to us in an excerpt of the 11th century not being a reliable source at all. An example for this is an anecdote told by PHILOSTRATUS. This anecdote is about HADRIAN'S easy and natural wit, whereas in the 11th-century-manuscript HADRIAN appears as an arrogant person being due to the fact that DIO didn't like HADRIAN very much. DIO namely was a senator and HADRIAN had treated in his eyes the senate quite badly. Maybe, it also had to do s.th. with the tragical death of HADRIANS gay friend ANTINOOS (who came from Bythinia like DIO).
Other sources: EPIPHANIUS, EUSEBIUS, HIERONYMUS, OROSIUS; papyri, inscriptions, coins.
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Information taken from: STEWART PEROWNE: HADRIAN; annotations.
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