Antinous

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Antinous (also Antinoüs or Antinoös; Ancient Greek: Ἀντίνοος) was a Bithynian Greek youth who captured the heart of Roman emperor Hadrian. Born in Claudiopolis, present-day Bolu, Turkey, on 27 November, around 111 AD, he rose to become Hadrian's favourite and lover by 128 AD. After being introduced to Hadrian in 123 AD, Antinous received a higher education in Italy before becoming the emperor's trusted companion. Antinous accompanied Hadrian during his annual visits to the Eleusinian Mysteries in Athens and was with him when he hunted down the Marousian lion in Libya. In October 130 AD, as they sailed along the Nile River on a flotilla, Antinous died under mysterious circumstances. Various theories suggest that his death could have been an accident or even a deliberate human sacrifice. Following Antinous' tragic passing, Hadrian deified him and founded a cult dedicated to his worship that spread across the Empire. The Roman emperor established the city of Antinopolis near Antinous' place of death, which became a sacred centre for the veneration of Osiris-Antinous. Hadrian also created games in commemoration of Antinous in both Antinopolis and Athens, solidifying his beloved's status as a symbol of pan-Hellenism. In Western culture, Antinous has become synonymous with homosexuality, featuring prominently in the works of Oscar Wilde and Fernando Pessoa.