![]() ![]() Hadrian also announced that a new city should be built on the site of Antinous’ death and was named Antinoopolis. He later decided to deify Antinous following the suggestion by the priest of Osiris in Egypt. Hadrian was severely saddened by the death of Antinous and it was reported that he shed tears for his young lover. It was true that Hadrian had been ill for many years after 127 CE and Antinous could have sacrificed himself in the belief that Hadrian would have recovered. ![]() ![]() This theory originated from the writings of Cassius Dio who was composing his histories 80 years after the event took place. Some other historians also interpreted Antinous’ death as a voluntary human sacrifice. Antinous himself knew that the longer their relationship lasted, the greater risk of Hadrian being remembered as a homosexual rather than a good emperor. While the two were in Alexandria in August 130 CE, the city’s Hellenic social elite was angered by several of Hadrian’s appointments and therefore began to gossip about his sexual activities. Some historians suggested that Antinous may have thrown himself into the river to save his beloved Hadrian’s political reputation. The mysterious death of Antinous remains a debate between historians today and neither side can give an exact explanation. It was at this time, around the time of the festival of Osiris, that Antinous fell into the Nile and was drowned. In the crucial year of 130 CE, Hadrian and Antinous went back to Egypt in October and assembled at Heliopolis for their river cruise along the Nile. ![]()
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