The Life of Antinous of Bithynia
Antinous was born in Claudiopolis, also called Bithynion, a city in the Roman province of Bithynia (in modern Turkey) in the year 111 A.D. His father perhaps held a position of prestige in the city. Antinous came from nothing, and from nowhere, but by the end of his short life, he was known all over the Empire, and his name has over come the trials of history.
He was extraordinarily beautiful, a living angel. Many compare him to Ganymede, or to Adonis, or one of many beautiful boys whose beauty attracted the attention of the Gods. So it was that a living God found Antinous while traveling the world.
The Emperor Hadrian passed through Bithynia in the year 123 A.D. and it is believed that on this trip he saw Antinous for the first time and fell in love. The details of Antinous's life are mostly unknown. The exact year of his birth is not known but the date is, November 27th.
It is believed that after meeting him, Hadrian was captivated. He took Antinous into his inner court, perhaps with the permission of his parents. The most widely accepted story is that Antinous was then sent to Rome to be educated at the finest school for boys. There he learned Latin, poetry, history and the arts. He also began to train his body in the gymnasium, and over time sculpted it, under the guidance of Hadrian's trainers, into what would become the finest example of Classical male beauty.
The beauty of Antinous is timeless. He is as perfect to our modern eyes as he was 1900 years ago. He has captivated lovers of male beauty ever since. Antinous was the first and the longest lasting Male supermodel.
The Chapel of Antinous Homo Deus
© 2002 Temple of Antinous
