Source edition
Scriptores Historiae Augustae, Volume 1. Magie, David, editor; Ballou, Susan Helen, editor. London, New York: William Heinemann, G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1922.
Source data
Perseus Digital Library · CC BY-SA (per Perseus's terms)
Cloned and adapted by Humanitext, with ongoing edits.
Summary
This biographical work depicts the life of Aelius Verus, who was adopted by Emperor Hadrian, as part of an effort to record the lives of those who held only the title of "Caesar" without becoming emperors. The author dedicates the work to Emperor Diocletian, beginning with theories on the origin of the name "Caesar" and Aelius's ancestry. The narrative then outlines Aelius's political career and his extremely frail health, revealing that Hadrian had foreseen his early death through astrological knowledge. It also details various anecdotes regarding Aelius's hedonistic lifestyle, luxurious private life, and unique tastes. Finally, the work concludes by describing Aelius's sudden death, Hadrian's subsequent adoption of Antoninus Pius, and the author's underlying motivations for writing.