The Foundation Story of Hadrianoutherai: Myth or Reality?

Hadrianoutherai was one of three cities in Northwestern Anatolia which was refounded by emperor Hadrian and the city’s name appears in Roman and Byzantine sources especially in relation with her foundation story. According to these sources, during his expedition in the area the emperor kills a bear in a hunting party, and as a commemoration of his successful hunting, he founds Hadrianoutherai where he did hunting. This hunting theme was also reflected on the city’s coins. But the similarity of the story with Ephesus’ foundation story as well as the common use of hunting theme as a symbol by kings and emperors in Antiquity, and efforts of the cities in Hadrianic era to create a link between the Greek past leads scholars to think that the foundation story of Hadrianoutherai might just be a myth. However, the hunting passion of the emperor which can be attested from ancient sources, coins and reliefs, the realisation of his passion for hunting during his famous travels to various provinces, and the suitable fauna and flora of Bal？kesir area in terms of hunting where the ancient city of Hadrianoutherai is generally localised, prevent us to see the story just as another myth. This study reveals that an event which was really taken place was shaped as a founding story