Travel / mobility / migration - Tourism in Antiquity

Question 1

What professions travelled often?

Answer 1

Doctors, artists etc. could move location easily as it was expected of them

Question 2

Name a figure who toured Greece, why, and what scholars reported on this?

Answer 2

Lucius Aemilius Paulus’ tour of Greece, c.167 BC:
Conqueror of the kingdom of Macedon - in the North of Greece for military reasons, sets out on a tour
(Polyb. 30.10; Livy 45.27.5-28.5; Plutarch, Aem. 28)

Question 3

What were the 3 prime motives for ancient tourism?

Answer 3

Religion: sanctuaries, oracles, healing, festivals
History/mythology: sites of famous deeds, tombs of heroes and historical figures, etc.
Art: temples as galleries/museums

Question 4

How often did Hadrian travel, and what was he nicknamed because of this?

Answer 4

12 years out of his reigning 21 on the move
“The restless emperor”

Question 5

What did Tertullian call Hadrian due to his tendency to travel?

Answer 5

“an explorer of all curiosities”
Tertullian, Apology, 5.7

Question 6

What years was Hadrian travelling?

Answer 6

Travels, c.121-133/4
(117–118: Return to Rome)
121–123: The Western tour
123–125: The First Eastern tour
128–133/4: The Second Eastern tour

Question 7

What were the Colossi of Memnon?

Answer 7

60 ft high / 18 metres tall
Built in the 14th century BC - funerary monument for pharaoh Amenhotep III
Inscriptions in hieroglyphs all over, plus miniature statuettes of wife & mother

Question 8

Why were the Colossi of Memnon a popular tourist destination?

Answer 8

Statue on the right was damaged by an earthquake in 26/27 BC and emitted a noise - a ‘voice’ which then drew massive crowds of tourists

Question 9

How is tourism to the Colossi of Memnon evidenced - except for ancient sources?

Answer 9

Inscriptions all over its legs - From a total of 107 legible inscriptions: 61 in Greek, 45 in Latin, 1 bilingual; 39 in verse, mostly Greek; 11 of the total are signed by women

Question 10

What types of information were inscribed on the Colossi of Memnon’s legs?

Answer 10

Status
Identity
Names of friends and family members
Occupation
Place of origin
Date of visit
Number of repeat visits
Time of day the voice was heard
Most popular season for visits
Arrival by river or land route