Lover, god, birthday boy: Antinous

[spqrblues]

Today is the birthday (dies natalis Antinoi) of Antinous, deified lover of the Emperor Hadrian, who will be coming along in a generation or so (we've already met Hadrian's foster father, Trajan). Antinous was born in Bithynia, a place which you'll find reference to in the print version of SPQR Blues (which MUST get sent out before this year is done). Antinous died young and under mysterious circumstances--whether accident, suicide, sacrifice, or murder is unresolved. The emperor made him a god. For almost two thousand years he's been a symbol of male beauty and enduring love.

I was reminded of the birthday by the very interesting twitter account and website Following Hadrian--well worth following--where there are nice pics of some excellent examples of the many, many statues dedicated to the young man, including one that still has traces of red paint on the hair. (Remind you of anyone?)

(Image: Following Hadrian, @carolemadge)

Comments

[northwestmagpie.livejournal.com]

Yes, I definitely see a resemblance. ;) I also recall looking at a statue of Antinous and thinking, "Hey, he sorta looks like Jim Morrison of The Doors . . . "

I had no idea he was a redhead. I'm following the Twitter account now, though, and making plans to go find a hard copy of Marguerite Yourcenar's Memoirs of Hadrian, which depicted Hadrian and Antinous' relationship with both tenderness and deep regret.

[meritahut.livejournal.com]

Jim Morrison! Omigosh, I absolutely can see that.

I'm not sure if the red hair on the statues is literal or symbolic. I'll have to see if Following Hadrian has any information on that. Surely some poet praised Antinous's hair, and would have made a point to mention if it was red. I'll investigate.

In our story, Speudon of course made a point to inform prospective buyer Mus that the fancy servant Speudon picked up from a trader in the east was a natural redhead :P

[northwestmagpie.livejournal.com]

I remember that. And of course, my mind immediately went to, "carpet matches drapes . . ."

[meritahut.livejournal.com]

My mind went there too, when I was drawing that one (http://spqrblues.com/IV/comic/chapter-iii-105/) :P

Oh, Speudon, never change.

No, wait--Do change, please, Speudon.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_w_o_o_d_/]

Oh poor Antinous, young forever... I've seen several of his statues in various museums along the years... Do you think his hair was naturally that curly, or that, like our friend, he used a curling iron?

[meritahut.livejournal.com]

I have a recollection of a portrait of him made while he was still a little boy, with a shaggy but unremarkable mop, but the googlemachine isn't helping me find that image now, so don't trust my memory. Even if the massive curls were puffed up with some very good hair conditioner and a little styling, the thick hair is so consistently part of his distinctive identifying characteristics, my guess would be that curls were part of the natural physical appeal that made him noteworthy. Just guessing, though.

He's also said to have been fairly smart and a good companion.

The somewhat-jealous Menander in my head would opine that natural or not doesn't matter, as long as your hair looks good....

[amedia.livejournal.com]

Beautiful statue photo! The story of Hadrian and Antinous always makes me sigh.

[meritahut.livejournal.com]

The mystery around how he died is like squeaky chalk on my historical scholar brain. But of course also very poignant to my emotional side.