Ulpia Marciana was the sister of the Emperor Trajan, and the first imperial sister/relative (never herself an empress) to receive the title of Augusta and to be deified after her death.
She was born in 48 CE, sometime in August–possibly between August 15 and 30th, according to the fragmentary imperial cult calendar from Doura-Europos. She had one daughter with her husband, Gaius Salonius Matidius Patruinus, namely Salonina Matidia, the mother of the Empress Sabina. When her husband died in 78 CE, Marciana went with Matidia to live with Trajan and his wife Plotina. They enjoyed a close relationship, and she advised him frequently.
She was well liked throughout the empire, and a number of cities were founded in her name while she was still alive: Colonia Marciana Ulpia Traiana Thamugadi (modern Timgad, Algeria) in 100 CE and Marcianopolis (modern Devnya, Bulgaria) in 106. She was offered the title of Augusta by Trajan, and initially refused it, but after being convinced by Plotina to accept it, she was regularly included in the imperial iconography. On her death between 112 and 114, Trajan requested her apotheosis, and the Senate approved it, thus creating the cultus of Diva Marciana.
As Hadrian was within Trajan’s household, and had a close relationship with Plotina and Matidia, and was married to Sabina, I’m certain that he would have likewise had cordial relations with Marciana, who seemed to have been loved by everyone. She was honored by having a demoi of the city of Antinoöpolis named after her (in the phyla named for Matidia). Therefore, we should honor her likewise.
Ave Diva Marciana Augusta! Ave Antinoe!
[...] in deifying his elder sister Aelia Domitia Paulina Minor, who preceded Hadrian in death just as Marciana did Trajan; but, he took a lot of criticism for this because he did not do so immediately, as she [...]
By: Antinoan Connections: Goddesses and Antinous–Aelia Domitia Paulina « Aedicula Antinoi: A Small Shrine of Antinous on October 22, 2010
at 12:22 am
[...] Annia Galeria Faustina Maior (the Elder) Diva Annia Galeria Faustina Minor (the Younger) Mantinoë Diva Ulpia Marciana Diva Salonina Matidia Diva Pompeia Plotina Diva Vibia [...]
By: Sacred Nights of Antinous: Panthea « Aedicula Antinoi: A Small Shrine of Antinous on October 25, 2010
at 3:20 am
[...] the senior generation of women coming from that context: Diva Plotina, the wife of Trajan; Diva Marciana, the sister of Trajan; and Diva Matidia, the daughter of Marciana and mother-in-law of [...]
By: Triads of Antinous #3-9: Triads of the Divine Women « Aedicula Antinoi: A Small Shrine of Antinous on November 8, 2010
at 8:39 pm
[...] natalis was September 18, and he was born in 53 CE. His wife was Pompeia Plotina, his sister was Ulpia Marciana, and his niece was Salonia [...]
By: Triads of Antinous #13-16: The Imperial Triads « Aedicula Antinoi: A Small Shrine of Antinous on November 13, 2010
at 11:51 pm
[...] given in the Doura-Europos calendar, including the dies natalis of Matidia on July 4 and that of Marciana sometime in the latter part of August. But both Diva Plotina and Diva Sabina are not given in any [...]
By: Dies Natalis Aelii Caesaris « Aedicula Antinoi: A Small Shrine of Antinous on January 13, 2011
at 12:59 am
[...] Diva Plotina! Ave Diva Marciana! Ave Diva Matidia! Ave Diva Sabina Augusta! Ave Diva Paulina! Ave Diva Faustina Maior! Ave Diva [...]
By: Pan and Antinous; Dies Divae; Sancti « Aedicula Antinoi: A Small Shrine of Antinous on January 8, 2012
at 8:58 pm