Under Hadrian’s predecessor Trajan, the city of Alexandria was destroyed by the fighting in the Kitos War (named after one of the Roman soldiers that eventually halted the fighting). Hadrian began the rebuilding of Alexandria during his reign. 

Hadrian is most known for two things: his travels and the mysterious death of his lover Antinous while visiting Egypt. The story goes that Antinous accompanied Hadrian on his travels and while cruising down the Nile on the trip to Egypt he died mysteriously. It is suggested that he accidentally drowned or was used in some sort of human sacrifice. Upon his death Hadrian erected a city, Antinoopolis, to commemorate his beloved. Antinoopolis is modern day Sheikh 'Ibada.