Antinous, a young man from Bithynia, was a favorite of Roman emperor Hadrian. Not much is known about his life except that he possessed a rare beauty. Antinous was not yet 20 years old when he drowned in the Nile in 130 CE under suspicious circumstances.
Hadrian grieved the young man and made a cult in his honor. While the cult was suppressed in the 4th century, the legend of Antinous continued to live as a symbol of same-sex love.
It is reported that Hadrian was devastated by the loss. Shortly after Antinous’ death, the emperor deified the young man and made a cult in his honor. This was the beginning of Antinous’ legacy and the birth of his legend. Read more…
A mysterious death on the Nile, an unconventional love affair, a Roman-Greek hero turned God – the story of Hadrian and Antinous is full of intrigue. The Rest is History delves into the world of Roman romance, where gender binaries and modern moral arguments do not feature, and look into the possible theories of how Antinous’ body ended up in the Nile…
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