The Roman emperor Hadrian (r. AD 117–138) championed
Egyptian and Greek culture. He visited Egypt in AD 130,and after his visit he promoted
faith in the universal god Serapis. The emperor also influenced fashion and
many people purposefully imitated his appearance in portraits.
During his visit to Egypt, his Greek lover
Antinous drowned in the Nile during the Mysteries of Osiris, and one of the most indispensable religious events across ancient Egypt. Hadrian founded a
novel city,Antinoopolis, at the site of his death. Antinous was venerated as the
god Osiris-Antinous (Antinous-Dionysos in the Greek world). Hadrian
commissioned buildings and sculpture connected with the worship of Osiris for
his villa in Tivoli, and near Rome.
After the deification of his drowned lover
Antinous,the novel saviour god Osiris-Antinous became popular and images of his
likeness were erected across the empire. His worship offered a sense of
community and the promise of transformation after death. Antinous is shown here
in a traditional Egyptian pose and royal dress. Osiris-Antinous was believed to
have healing powers and his veneration lasted long after the death of Hadrian. Learn more approximately the
deep connections between the worthy ancient civilisations of Egypt and Greece in the BP exhibition Sunken cities: Egypt’s lost worlds (19 May – 27 November 2016). Marble bust of the emperor Hadrian wearing military dress. Tivoli, c. AD
125–130. Marble portrait head from a statue of Antinous, or as Dionysos,wearing a wreath of ivy. Rome,
c. AD 130–140. Statue of Osiris-Antinous, or Canopus,c. AD
130–200. Greco-Roman Museum, Alexandria. Photo: Christoph Gerigk. © Franck Goddio/Hilti Foundation.
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