One of the Greatest Love Stories of Ancient Rome
How Hadrian made his lover a god
When thinking about love stories in Ancient Rome, the first story that comes to mind is the love story of Cleopatra and Mark Antony. This great love story was repeatedly told throughout history, even Shakespeare wrote a play about it. However, there was another great love story from the Roman Empire’s imperial period which has not been forgotten. It is about an endless love between two men: Hadrian and Antinous.
Hadrian was born on January 24th, 76, either in near present-day Seville or Rome. During his rule, his goal was to further strengthen and unite the Roman Empire by investing a lot into infrastructure and restraining from further military actions, thus promoting prosperity throughout the vast Empire. He concentrated military efforts in defending the Roman Empire by building fortifications such as the world-famous Hadrian’s Wall.
A tolerated love
To strengthen the bond of the different regions of the Empire with Rome, Hadrian traveled extensively. However, he did not travel alone. Upon meeting the young athletic and extremely handsome Antinous, the two were inseparable. His companion and boyfriend fit perfectly into Hadrian’s love for the Greek way of life and culture. The two began a relationship with the emperor…
