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Hadrian, 11 August 117 - 10 July 138 A.D., Roman Provincial Egypt
"Antinous was from Bithynium, a Bithynian city which we also call Claudiopolis, and he had become Hadrian's boy-favorite (paidika); and he died in Egypt, either by falling into the Nile, as Hadrian writes [lost], or, as the truth is, having been offered in sacrifice (hierourgethesis). For Hadrian was in any case, as I have said, very keen on the curious arts, and made use of divinations and incantations of all kinds. Thus Hadrian honored Antinous - either on account of his love for him, or because the youth had voluntarily undertaken to die for him (ethelontes ethanatothe) (for there was need for a life to be surrendered willingly, to achieve what Hadrian intended), by founding a city on the spot where he suffered this fate and naming it after him [Antinoöpolis; modern El Sheik'ibada]. He also set up statues of him, or rather sacred images, practically all over the world. Finally he declared that he had seen a star, which he took to be that of Antinous, and gladly listened to the fictitious tales spun by his companions, to the effect that the star had really come into being from the soul of Antinous and had then appeared for the first time. As a result of this, indeed, he was ridiculed, especially because when his sister Paulina died he had not immediately accorded her any honours." -- Cassius Dio (c.164-post 229) (The section of his Roman History covering Hadrian's reign is known only from the 11th century epitome by Xiphilinus) 69.11.2-4RX66487. Bronze obol, Geissen 1245; Dattari 1739; Milne 1575; Kampmann-Ganschow 32.772; SNG Hunterian 4129; BMC Alexandria p. 90, 764 var. (no L), aF, Alexandria mint, weight 3.287g, maximum diameter 18.7mm, die axis 0o, 29 Aug 137 - 10 Jul 138 A.D.; obverse AYT KAIC TPA AΔPIANOC CEB, laureate bust right, drapery (and aegis?) on left shoulder; reverse bust of Harpokrates (perhaps Antinous as Harpokrates) right, wearing hemhem crown, slight drapery on far shoulder, pomegranate before, K/L - B (year 22) flanking across field; SOLD
OBVERSE LEGENDS
REFERENCES
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