At London's British Museum, the History of Hadrian lives again. A new exhibition reviews the many contrasts of the Roman Emperor Hadrian, who was considered a ruthless military leader.

Hadrian had his fingers burnt in ancient Iraq. He fought insurrection on several fronts. And in the north of England, built a huge wall to guard the frontier from fractious Celtic clans. Despite his military involvement he was able to boost Rome's economy and leave a major artistic legacy.

Many of the trials and tribulations facing the Roman Emperor nearly 2,000 years ago resonate today.

Hadrian was immensely popular with soldiers. His reforms of the armed forces remained the standard for the Roman Army for over a century.

Hadrian also set in motion a vast public works programme. He built the Pantheon, a personal villa at Tivoli and even his own mausoleum. The mausoleum is known today as the Castel Sant'Angelo.

When he died in AD 138, Hadrian left a rich artistic and architectural legacy and a vastly strengthened Roman Empire. His imprint remains, even in the 21st Century.

The Hadrian exhibition runs until mid October. It draws together 170 items from 11 countries. So delicate are some of them that when the exhibition concludes, it will be disbanded. The pieces will be returned to their home countries for preservation.