Antinous

Antinous or Antinoös (Αντινοος) (c111-130 AD), lover of the Roman Emperor Hadrian, was born to a Greek family in Bithynion-Claudiopolis, in the province of Bithynia in what is now north-west Turkey. He seems to have entered the service of the Emperor in about 123 AD, and soon became his lover.

In 130 AD Antinous died by drowning in the Nile. It is not known if his death was the result of accident, suicide, murder or religious sacrifice. All are possibilities. Hadrian declared Antinous to be a god, and statues to his memory were erected all over the Empire. Temples were built for his worship in Bithynia, Mantineia in Arcadia, and Athens, festivals celebrated in his honour and oracles delivered in his name.

As a result, this 19-year-old boy is one of the best-preserved faces from the ancient world. Many of his statues survive and may be seen in museums across Europe. They include a colossal bust in the Vatican, a bust in the Louvre, a bas-relief from the Villa Albani, a statue in the Capitoline museum, another in Berlin, another in the Lateran, and many more.

The city of Antinoopolis was founded on the ruins of Besa where he died. Many busts, gems and coins represent Antinous as the ideal type of youthful beauty, often with the attributes of some special god. Although these are obviously idealised images, they demonstrate what all contemporary writers described as Antinous's extraordinary beauty.

External Link

• The Shrine of Antinous

In Greek mythology, Antinous, son of Eupeithes, was the leader of Penelope's suitors and was the first to be killed by Odysseus.

Odyssey IV, 628, 660, 773; XVII, 409; XXII, 8.