Antinoüs

Antinoüs (ăntĭnˈōəs) [key], c.110–130, favorite of Emperor Hadrian, b. Bithynia. He was with the emperor constantly until on a journey in Egypt he was drowned in the Nile—some say in saving Hadrian's life. His beauty was legendary, and Hadrian mourned him greatly, had him deified, founded the city of Antinoöpolis in Egypt in his honor, and seems to have renamed the youth's birthplace Antinoöpolis. A cult was inaugurated in his honor, coins were struck with Antinoüs' head on them, and many busts and statues were made.

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