The affair between the Emperor Hadrian and his Greek courtier Antinous is one of the most famous, a tragic romance that has inspired artists for almost 2000 years. 'Overwhelming, insatiable in battle, destructive and man-slaughtering'; Ares, the god of War. Antinous was idealized as the perfection of male beauty. Corrections? Bronze medallion minted by the city of Smyrna under the reign of Emperor Hadrian (117-138 AD).

Hadrian erected temples to him throughout the empire and founded a city, named Antinoöpolis, in his honour, near the place where he died. Two years before his death Hadrian officially adopted Lucius Aelius Caesar as his heir.

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Antinous. Antinous now has his own website—http://www.antinopolis.org/life.html.

( Log Out /  In the modern era, a sexual relationship between a grown man and a boy is obviously illegal, but at the time of Hadrian, sexual relations between adult males and boys had been deemed socially acceptable for centuries in Greece. Photo. Reigned as emperor from 138-161AD. Photo, - AKG595841 Hadrian’s Villa, Tivoli, Canopus / Photo Tivoli, Latium (Italy), Hadrian’s Villa (built 126 – 134 AD for Emperor Hadrian), – Exterior view: statue in the canopus. The spread of the cult of Antinous was mainly down to a desire to show reverence to Emperor Hadrian. In contrast to the sybaritic Lucius Aelius Hadrian's next choice, Antoninus Pius (86-161AD), was an effective and experienced proconsul. Although a Roman, Hadrian had a thing for the Greeks. Ares was represented as the epitome of male beauty and as such must have appealed to Hadrian. Emperor Hadrian c.118-138AD. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. The Senate whispered loudly of the unseemliness of the affair while Hadrian traveled extensively with Antinous around the empire. While such relationships were common in Rome and Greece, the seriousness of their love was unusual for the time.

“For these Romans I set no bounds in space and time; but have given empire without end.” - pronouncement of Jupiter in Virgil’s ‘Aeneid’. He brought the Greek beard back in style, promoted the Greek language and rebuilt the ancient Greek temples. The city was active until about the 10th century. A capable and respected administrator. While he was on a roll, Hadrian dedicated a new constellation (now part of Aguila, the eagle).

Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... …statues of Hadrian’s Bithynian favourite. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Swindon, Wiltshire, Colossal statue of the emperor Hadrian discovered. Found in 1907. and put Antinous on coins of the realm, the only non-emperor to appear on Roman coins. Updates? Oscar Wilde popularized Antinous in The Young King, The Sphinx and The Picture of Dorian Gray.

Antinoüs, (born c. 110, Bithynium, Bithynia—died 130, near Besa, Egypt), homosexual lover of the Roman emperor Hadrian, deified by the emperor after his death in Egypt, where he drowned. The adoption came with the proviso that Lucius Aelius' son, Lucius Verus, and Hadrian's relative,Marcus Aurelius, should succeed Antoninus Pius as joint rulers. Antinoüs, (born c. 110, Bithynium, Bithynia—died 130, near Besa, Egypt), homosexual lover of the Roman emperor Hadrian, deified by the emperor after his death in Egypt, where he drowned.Hadrian erected temples to him throughout the empire and founded a city, named Antinoöpolis, in his honour, near the place where he died.An obelisk, now in Rome near the Porta Maggiore, marked his tomb. In his honor, Hadrian deified the young man and decreed the development of  what became a very popular cult around his worship. An obelisk, now in Rome near the Porta Maggiore, marked his tomb. - AKG595840 Hadrian’s Villa, Tivoli, Canopus / Photo Tivoli, Latium (Italy), Hadrian’s Villa (built 126 – 134 AD for Emperor Hadrian), – Exterior view: canopus statues and arcade. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. Change ). For example, the citizens of Lepcis Magna in Roman North Africa rapidly set up images of Antinous in the expectation that Hadrian would visit the city. Hadrian and Antinous Created by artist Malcolm Lidbury for 2016 LGBT History & Art Project Cornwall UK. The constellation remained on charts until 1930 when it deemed inappropriate  for a gay icon to be represented in the skies. Many sculptures, gems, and coins survive depicting Antinoüs as a model of youthful beauty. ( Log Out /  Strange gods lurked at every turn. See more ideas about Roman sculpture, Roman art, Statue. When they were in Delphi, the Oracle told Hadrian that “he would become the most … There relationship was openly, and gracefully displayed before the eyes of the world. - 6 December 2015. ( Log Out /  However his health was poor and he died before Hadrian.

On a trip to Egypt, Antinous drowned in the Nile. While such relationships were common in Rome and Greece, the seriousness of their love was unusual for the time. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. While Hadrian was visiting the province of Egypt in late AD 130, his favourite, Antinous, drowned mysteriously in the Nile River. Some statues of Antinous-Osiris look almost threatening. When they were in Delphi, the Oracle told Hadrian that “he would become the most famous and powerful Emperor of all time, if he lost the thing he loved the most.”. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Dionysos, although mostly known as a god of fertility, was also known as the "Lord of Souls" after his journey into the underworld to rescue his mother, Demeter. A true story. Hadrian left an unforgettable farewell to life in the form of a poem which begins ' Animula, vagula blandula'... Only Marguerite Yourcenar's translation convey's something of the beauty of the Latin; ' Little soul, gentle and drifting'... 'Antinous; Emperor Hadrian had him deified after his death and ordered statues commemorating his beauty made throughout the Roman empire.' One wonders how Hadrian viewed these strange, haunting images of his dead lover. Thank you, I learned something new today.

Jan 5, 2020 - Explore Michael Stennett's board "Hadrian and Antinous", followed by 582 people on Pinterest. From the area of Torre del Padiglione, between Anzio and Lanuvio. An extravagant figure (he slept on beds of roses and dressed up his boy slaves as cupids) Lucius Aelius was considered 'well-dressed, elegant in appearance, a man of regal beauty'. The Roman Emperor Hadrian took a young lover named Antinous. Towards the end of his life Hadrian became an increasingly haunted figure, as well he might living in his curious fantasy palace packed with ghosts. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). ( Log Out /  The Roman Emperor Hadrian took a young lover named Antinous. Antinous & Hadrian’s Story. Another story is that Hadrian’s men knew this and threw Antinous overboard to get to the same end. with thousands of statues of the beautiful young man. One story is that Antinous knowing that he was what Hadrian loved the most, sacrificed himself.

Omissions? He re-instituted the Roman baths as same sex and conducted much of this business there.

The chronicles of the time stated that “Hadrian cried like a woman” upon hearing of his lover’s death. He filled his temples and a new city on the Nile called Antiniopolos.

But this affair was not scandalous for the reason some might think — the scandal was not that Hadrian had a male lover, but that Hadrian actually loved him. Antoninus Pius (title granted by the Senate possibly in recognition of his loyalty to Hadrian whom he insisted be deified). Hadrian - a skilled astrologer- became obsessed by his own mortality. Rumors at the time in the Empire declared that  there were sacred nights in the city with drunken revelries and sexual orgies.

130-138 AD.

The Empress Sabina, Hadrian's wife, and her attendants were members of the entourage, but on this particular voyage, Antinous was the most favored of Hadrian's companions. In The Troubleseeker, which begins in Cuba in 1962, the hero is named Antinio and his story is narrated by demigod Hadriano. The Senate whispered loudly of the unseemliness of the affair while Hadrian traveled extensively with Antinous around the empire. Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. The latest Tweets from Gareth Harney (@OptimoPrincipi). Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. Work of Antonianus of Aphrodisia.