Mount Etna has been used, in recent times, for many important projects. Astronauts train here before space missions, videos of various singers and dancers fascinated by the “lunar” landscape are shot here. Famous people compete to post “selfies” on the top or at the foot of our great volcano. Etna has always fascinated travelers, even the most important ones. It seems that even a Roman emperor passed through these parts.
Etna … luxury tourism?
There is much discussion about proposals for “luxury tourism” on Mount Etna. It is certainly a fascinating environment, but it is also a protected reserve for the protection of an ecosystem that has no equal in the world. If modern VIPs dream of a five-star resort on the slopes of the highest volcano in Europe, they should also keep in mind the rules of respect that great people of the past had towards the mountain. Even an emperor, considered a “god” by the Romans, bowed before the beauty of Etna. And he admired its splendor without “touching” it.
Emperor Adrian on Etna
As the blog IL VULCANICO (italian only – at: https://ilvulcanico.it/re-regine-imperatori-alla-corte-di-sua-maesta-letna/ ) reveals, in 128 AD Emperor Adrian passed through here on his way back from a trip to Greece. The emperor had probably arrived on the southern coast of Sicily (Syracuse?) with a ship, returning from some war expedition or diplomatic trip, then he had taken the way back from Messina and had therefore gone up north. He had never seen Etna, according to the authors of De Vita Hadriani, and was curious to admire it.
Once he arrived there he decided to climb the volcano and managed to camp on its summit, admiring the sunrise. It is clearly stated in the Latin chronicles, translated here: «Then he went by sea to Sicily and there climbed Etna to see the sunrise, which, it is said, appears there in a variety of colors, like a rainbow». The mentioned “variety of colors” may have been favoured by volcanic gases at high altitude.
Who was Adrian?
Publius Aelius Traianus Hadrianus (Italica, January 24, 76 – Baia, July 10, 138) – or rather the emperor Adrian – was one of the so-called “good emperors”, who succeeded Trajan and was a great fan of Greek culture.
The child of a family from Abruzzo, he was born in Spain where his father had probably gone for his work as a public official … or perhaps for reasons related to his mother’s family, who was originally from Càdiz. Orphaned at just 9 years old, he was raised by Trajan, a family friend, who later made him his favorite. Also very dear to Trajan’s wife, he married one of her relatives and became fully part of the family.
Having entered the Senate, he lived his political career between Rome and Athens. After Nerva’s death, Trajan became emperor and Adrian was his faithful right-hand man until the end. Unlike others, he did not have any official appointment but it was probably the influence of Trajan’s wife that brought him to power after her husband’s death in 116. Adrian would govern for the next 22 years with an enlightened and cultured policy that was very much based on Greek values. Author of many important reforms, he had a special consideration for the people, improving the living conditions even of slaves! He led few wars and preferred to use military forces in defense, construction and fortification (he built the famous the long fortified Adrian’s Wall, that defended England from attacks by enemies from the north, and which today marks the ideal border with Scotland). He promoted the arts and sports, to avoid the laziness of the troops who were nevertheless very well employed in the three “Jewish Wars” in Palestine.
Adrian died after many years of a “painful illness”, leaving as his successor the young Antoninus Pius.