EXPOPAPIROS

The tale starts with an issue between Hadrianus and Varus, with the latter accusing the former of being a poisoner. No evidence supporting this charge could be shown in court. Therefore Varus was punished and sent into exile in a  mysterious Island called Lycaonia while his possessions were confiscated. Having just occupied the throne,  Hadrianus asked permission from the Senate to embark in journey around the world which ultimately brought him to the island where Varus was living in exile. Although Hadrianus did not recognize Varus when rudely addressed by him, he quickly pardoned Varus in his magnanimity and restored him to his curial position.

The tale takes us abruptly to the Hadrianus' arrival to Cologne where he was happily welcome by its inhabitants. As a response to their enthusiastic reception, the emperor offered them two gifts. Consequently, aprinceps called Amantinus Secundinus asked him for a remission on a heavy tax burden imposed by Vespasian, as well as the appointmentof a consular to act as an intermediary between the city and the emperor. Back in Rome, Hadrianus sent no other than Varus to Cologne as a consular. What follows might not bear any surprise to the modern reader: upon his arrival Varus accussed the emperor of being demented and abolished the tax remission.

This is exactly where the lazy scribe stopped his copying so we cannot know how the tale came to an end. Broadly speaking the literary quality of Hadrianus’ tale is extremely poor. However, it is a testimony of the great interest in the reception of Greco-Roman literary tradition in Christian Egypt as it assimilates certain historical as well as fictional facts jumbled with some loci communi from Classical and Christian literature resulting in a distinctive and unique product which could have been used for learning purposes.

As the editors have rightly pointed out, the encounter between Hadrianus and Varus in the Lycaonia Island takes its form from the classical literary motive of the anagnorisis, in which one of the characters is styled in an almost unrecognizable physical appearance. On the other hand, the appearance of Varus, as well as his behavior is evocative of those of the Cynic philosophers who were typically portrayed as bearded with unkempt hair and morally haughty people. In addition to this, the scene for the encounter does not seem unjustified. According to the editors, Lycaonia could be the Tiberine Island, a common place for ostracism and exile in Roman jurisprudence as well as the scene of numerous martyrdoms in Christian hagiography. It is not hard to imagine the particularly sad reputation as a place of extreme suffering for Christians in Egypt.

The sui generis Montserrat Codex might be a IV cent. CE copy of an original dated to the 2nd CE. This assumption is mostly based on the existence at this date of certain school texts revolving around Hadrianus the emperor: the Sententiae Hadriani as well as the Vita Secundi. Both texts emphasize these moral virtues detailed in the Montserrat tale of Hadrianus, mainly his magnanimity and equanimity. 

 

 

 

Juan Gil - Sofía Torallas Tovar, HADRIANVS. P. Monts. Roca III, Orientalia Montserratensia, Barcelona: 2010.