ABSTRACT
PLOTINA, together with Hadrian’s mother-in-law, Matidia, and Acilius Attianus, at once hastened to Rome. Hadrian for the time being remained in Syria, but sent a letter to the Senate apologizing for the fact that consultation with regard to his “adoption” had not been possible, and requesting that the Senate vote divine honours to Trajan and confirm his own elevation to the purple, but to confer no unsolicited honours upon him; and he made the usual promise of a new Emperor, that with him service to the State would always come first and that he would never put a senator to death. This attitude of respect towards the Senate was in the true Augustan tradition and was to be a marked feature of the reign. Nevertheless it hardly altered the facts of the situation. The Senate actually had no option, since the army had already acclaimed Hadrian. The Senate, accordingly, formally recognized him, and granted Trajan the honour of deification, burial within the pomerium 1 and a posthumous triumph; annual Parthian games were even instituted.
