MUNDUS PATET

NOVEMBER 8th in Ancient Rome was Mundus patet: the day when the gate of the underworld is open and dead people return to us.

English: Memento Mori Roman mosaic from Pompeii representing the Wheel of Fortune. The wheel turns. Rich people (symbolized by the purple cloth on the left) become poor. Poor people (symbolized by the goatskin at right) become rich. Both conditions are very precarious. Death is in the balance. Death hangs by a thread: when it breaks, the soul (symbolized by the butterfly) flies off. And thus are all made equal.

Português: 8 de novembro na Roma antiga foi Mundus patet: o dia em que o portão do submundo está aberto e mortos voltar para nós. Mosaico romano de Pompéia representando a Roda da Fortuna. A roda gira, os povos ricos (simbolizados pelo pano roxo na esquerda) tornam-se pobres. Os pobres (simbolizados pela pele de cabra à direita) se tornam ricos. Ambas as condições são muito precárias. A morte é o equilíbrio. A morte pendura por um fio: quando quebra, a alma (simbolizada pela borboleta) voa fora. E assim são todos iguais.

Español: El 8 de noviembre en la Roma antigua fue Mundus patet: el día en que la puerta del mundo subterráneo está abierta y los muertos regresan a nosotros. Mosaico romano de Pompeya que representa la Rueda de la Fortuna. La rueda da vuelta, la gente rica (simbolizada por el paño púrpura en el izquierdo) hace pobre. Los pobres (simbolizados por la piel de cabra a la derecha) se hacen ricos. Ambas condiciones son muy precarias. La muerte es el equilibrio. La muerte cuelga por un hilo: cuando se rompe, el alma (simbolizada por la mariposa) vuela. Y así se hacen iguales.

Français : La mosaïque représente la Roue de la Fortune qui, lorsqu'elle tourne, peut faire du riche (symbolisé par l'étoffe pourpre à gauche) un pauvre, et du pauvre (symbolisé par la peau de chèvre à droite) un riche ; en effet chaque état est très précaire, la Mort est aux aguets à tout moment, et la vie tient à un fil : lorsque ce dernier rompra, l'âme (symbolisée par le papillon) s'envolera. Et tout le monde sera sur un pied d'égalité.

Italiano: Questo mosaico romano rappresenta la ruota della fortuna che, girando su se stessa, può far diventare povero il ricco (simboleggiato dalla stoffa purpurea a sinistra) e ricco il povero (la pelle di capra a destra). Ma l'equilibrio è molto precario: la morte è in agguato in ogni momento e la vita è sospesa ad un filo: quando il filo si spezzerà, l'anima (raffigurata come una farfalla sotto il teschio) volerà via. E, a quel punto, tutti gli uomini saranno uguali.

Deutsch: Das römische Mosaik repräsentiert das Glücksrad / Rad der Fortuna, das wenn es sich dreht die Reichen (symbolisiert durch das purpurrote Tuch links) arm machen kann, und die Armen (symbolisiert durch das Ziegenfell rechts) reich machen kann, aber alles ist sehr prekär, der Tod lauert zu allen Zeiten, und das Leben hängt an einem Faden: wenn dieser reißt, fliegt die Seele (symbolisiert durch den Schmetterling) davon. Und alle werden gleich gemacht.

EXPERTS DECIPHER MAGICAL SPELL BOOK FOUND NEAR ANTINOOPOLIS IN EGYPT

AN ancient Egyptian handbook containing magic spells in use in or near Antinoopolis has been deciphered by Australian scientists.

The Handbook of Ritual Power – as named by the researchers – explains how to cast love spells, exorcise evil spirits and treat 'black jaundice', a fatal infection still present today.

According to Live Science, the text is written in Coptic and the book is made of bound parchmentpapers. It is about 1,300 years old and was first acquired by Macquarie University in 1981 from antiques dealer Michael Fackelmann.

However, where Fackelmann first got the handbook from is unknown.

"The dialect suggests an origin in Upper Egypt, perhaps in the vicinity of Ashmunein/Hermopolis," which is directly across the Nile from Antinoopolis, researchers Malcolm Choat and Iain Gardner wrote in their book A Coptic Handbook of Ritual Power.

Antinoopolis was always a place of "magic, sorcery and strange religious fervor " according to Royston Lambert in his authoritative book about Antinous, BELOVED AND GOD. 

We know that the priests of Antinous wrote a LOVE SPELL. Lambert notes that even to this day local villagers believe the place to be haunted.

The ancient Egyptian magic spell book starts with a long series of invocations, annotated with drawings and "words of power", they say.

"These are followed by a number of prescriptions or spells to cure possession by spirits and various ailments, or to bring success in love and business."

The book, which is 20 pages long, includes a spell about how to control someone. To do this, people must say a magical formula over two nails, then drive them into his doorstop: "One on the right side (and) one on the left."

At the time the book was written, Egyptians had become Christians and it contains several references to Jesus. However, there are also mentions of the Sethians – a group that held the third son of Adam and Eve (Seth) in high regard.

Church leaders thought Sethians to be heretics and by the time the book was written, they had been all but wiped out.

The authors believe the handbook could be a transitional text created before all the Sethian spells had been purged. They told LiveScience they believe the spells were originally from separate books, but were later combined to create a "single instrument of ritual power".

Discussing who might have used the book, Choat said: "It is my sense that there were ritual practitioners outside the ranks of the clergy and monks, but exactly who they were is shielded from us by the fact that people didn't really want to be labeled as a 'magician'."

ANTINOUS IN THE STRANGEST PLACES EVEN AT THE SUPERMARKET

ANTINOUS shows up in the most extraordinary places ... even at the supermarket magazine rack.

Some years ago, Hachette published a magazine series entitled THE GODS OF ANCIENT EGYPT which featured special issues on scores of Egyptian deities ... nearly 100 in all.

Each edition featured a glossy brochure and an epoxy resin figurine in a little plastic "display case." The magazines were widely available at booksellers and newsstands around the world.

Antinous was featured in Issue 88 — possibly the most collectible issue in the whole series.

The Hachette magazines have long since gone out of print, but the figurines are still found on eBay and other online marketplaces.

Antinous is hard to find, but occasionally he turns up and the bidding turns fierce as ANTINOMANIACS fight to possess the little 4.5-inch (14 cm) figurine.

The one pictured here sold on eBay for nearly $50 in "NRFB" condition — "Never Removed From Box."

It is "only a fake" of course. 

But that does not make it any less sacred or magical to anyone who loves Antinous. 

In ancient times, Antinous figurines, images, coins and medallions were prized by his worshipers as a sort of portable Sacred Token or Pocket Shrine.

In his authoritative book about Antinous, BELOVED AND GOD, Royston Lambert points out that in ancient times many followers of the Blessed Youth felt it was necessary to have a tangible representation of Antinous with them at all times for protection and for blessings:

"Some of the devotees evidently could not bear to be parted from the beneficial and reassuring presence of their Antinous and therefore had small, light-weight travelling busts or bronzes made to accompany them on their journeys."

Poor people made do with more crudely made representations, such as coins and figurines and medals made of lead, clay and other base materials. The demand was so great that there was a rife trade in which we would nowadays call "copyright piracy" among artisans turning out "illicitly yet more crude and cheap medallions of this hero whose images, miracles and protection were obviously sought by countless poor folk of faith."


People of modest means who were lucky enough to get their hands on one of his clay figures or commemorative coins would carry them with them for protection, often even wearing them:

"Many were pierced by holes and hung from the neck as talismans: Antinous' image offering protection against evil, sickness and death," says Lambert. 

Other such tiny statuettes, figurines, coins and medallions were placed in portable shrines or pouches or adorned away-from-home altars, and others were buried with the dead "to invoke the god's aid on the perilous journey into the unknown."

We look at the little Hachette Antinous figurine and see only a cheap epoxy resin plastic action figure, crudely hand-painted in some Chinese sweat shop. 

But imagine how the Ancient Priests of Antinous would have gaped in wonder at this little figurine swaddled in cellophane, along with a book of shiny pages unlike any papyrus, pages adorned with inscrutable glyphs and breathtakingly realistic images. 

Where we see ordinary plastic, the Ancient Priests would see a wondrous statuette fashioned in what to them would be a magical putty-like material not like anything found on Earth.

Clearly, it was fashioned by the Gods themselves — clearly, ANTINOUS THE GAY GOD truly is "immanent" (in-dwelling) in this miraculous vessel.

And the Ancient Priests would, of course, be absolutely right. 

HOW A PLASTER HEAD OF ANTINOUS IS MADE

HERE are some stunning photos of how a plaster head of Antinous is made, using a silicone form and water and plaster ... and craftsmanship. CLICK HERE for the artisan's explanation.

THIS LIFE-SIZE MARBLE HEAD PROVES ANTINOUS SHARED A TEMPLE WITH THE GODDESS DIANA

Archaeologists discovered this rare, high-quality marble portrait head of Antinous during excavations at the ancient city of Teos, located in modern-day Seferihisar, Izmir, Türkiye not far from the site of ancient Smyrna, a city which Hadrian and Antinous visited in 129 AD.

The portrait head fragment was unearthed in the southeast corner of the temple within the city's agora (market square). The temple itself was originally dedicated to the goddess Diana along with the goddess Roma and Emperor Augustus. 

This artifact is one of the few marble portraits of Antinous of this size found in Anatolia. Its specific placement within an existing imperial sanctuary indicates that the citizens of Teos actively integrated Antinous into their civic imperial worship. 

The ongoing excavations ... spearheaded by Ankara University and the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism ... have continually yielded immense historical data from the site.

Alongside the Antinous portrait, teams have uncovered 13 distinct inscriptions and new statue bases, expanding modern understanding of Teos's political and religious landscape during the Roman period.

Teos is known for hosting the Guild of Dionysian Artists, an association of poets, actors and musicians, in the third century B.C. The city's strong artistic tradition earned it a reputation as a center for the arts in antiquity.

ANTINOUS IN HIERAPOLIS CITY OF SACRED PROSTITUTES

IT in November of the year 129 AD that the Imperial entourage of Hadrian and Antinous arrived in the sacred city of Hierapolis in Asia Minor (Turkey) on what would be one of the last festively upbeat stops on the emperor's fateful final tour of his sprawling empire.

Hieropolis was the City of the Sacred Prostitutes, including gay prostitutes.

Today only scattered ruins remain, including those of the amphitheatre which was built in honor of the Divine Hadrian's visit in late 129 and early 130. 

But in its heyday, Hierapolis was a city of 100,000 inhabitants and was noted for its fine temples and, above all, for its healing thermal springs ... hot springs which to this day continue to draw people seeking healing relief.

Apollo was the chief god of Hierapolis, along with Pluto, whose healing energies fed the miraculous thermal springs which were famed throughout the Roman Empire.

But the most extraordinary temple in this Sacred City of Temples was indeed the Temple of Astargis, a Hellenized form of Astarte-Venus.

The Temple was famous (or "infamous" in the view of early Christians) for its sacred prostitutes, the "hierodules", who were priestesses of the love goddess.

The Bible mentions Hieropolis briefly as an iniquitous site of whoredom and wickedness, an obvious reference to this Temple. The Christians did their worst to convert the city. Paul came here. 

And the Apostle Philip proselytized in this city for three years before finally being stoned to death. He was buried in Hieropolis.

Recently, archaeologists identified the Plutonium (Pluto's Sacred Cave) as the legendary  GATEWAY TO HADES of ancient mythology.

Like the thermal waters seething in the Plutonium, Hieropolis was a seething hotbed of religious turmoil.

Hadrian and Antinous arrived in Hierapolis to a joyous welcome.

Because of his devotion to the Goddess Venus, Hadrian most certainly would have visited the Temple that was the center of a large, wide-spread cult ... the Temple of Astargis, a Hellenized form of Astarte-Venus ... the temple of the sacred gay prostitutes known as "hierodules."

The temple was an imposing edifice whose portals were flanked by towering phallic sculptures. Inside, the temple catered to every sexual persuasion.

Yes, there were also homosexual sacred prostitutes, who likewise served the goddess to the best of their ability.

Flamen ANTONIUS SUBIA believes the connection between their office and the function of Antinous as the lover of Hadrian may have facilitated his initiation into their cult. Thus, Antinous may have been an Honorary Sacred Prostitute.

In the words of Antonius: 

"Hadrian and Antinous paid homage at the Temple of Atargatis, a Hellenized form of Astarte-Venus, known to the Romans as Dea Syria, in the city called Hieropolis, or the Holy City. The ancient temple of Atargatis was famous for its sacred prostitutes, the hierodules, who were priestesses of the love goddess that served as sexual vessels for the adoration of the men. 

"There were two giant phallus statues in front of the temple like obelisks, which bore an inscription saying that they had been erected by Dionysus on his way to Ethiopia.

"Once a year two devotees would climb to the top of the phalluses and remain there without sleep for seven days in the same way that Simeom Stylites climbed his column to be closer to the gods. 

"Hadrian would have visited the Temple because of his devotion to Venus and because the temple was the center of a vast cult of the goddess Dea Syria that had spread all throughout the world reaching Rome and North Africa, and Gaul. 

"There were homosexual sacred-prostitutes, who served the goddess, and the priests of the temple were transgender eunuchs like the Galli of the Great Mother Cybele with whom they had much in common and may even have been a denomination. 

"Apollodorus of Rhodes writes of them as mendicants who traveled together as beggars and they were seen by Augustine of Hippo in North Africa doing their ecstatic dances playing drums and cymbals.

"Though it is clear from his heroic proclamation at Heliopolis that Antinous was a willing lover of Hadrian, he was accused of being Hadrian's sex slave by the early Christians, and so Antinous has been connected to prostitution from the very beginning.

"We recognize and praise the connection between Antinous and the sacred prostitutes of Atargatis, and by extension the sacredness of all sex-workers today who serve a sacred function.  Throughout history, LGBT youth have turned to prostitution, porn, and online sex-work as a means of survival, once they were victimized by the law and outcast by society. But now, through the internet, it has become acceptable and to Religio Antinoi a sacred act.

"We honor the ancient cult of Atargatis of Hieropolis out of love for the sacred female and male hierodules and for the transgender mendicant priestesses who spread the cult of the goddess to the world.  May Antinous the god of prostitutes bless and watch over his people."

MEXICO'S FIRST SAINT OF ANTINOUS IS VICTIM OF HOMOPHOBIC VIOLENCE

ON November 2nd, Día de los Muertos (All Souls Day), worshippers of Antinous in Mexico City solemnly honour the first martyr saint of Antinous in Mexico: Jorge Fernandez Martínez, a victim of homophobic violence.

Our sister group Epithimia Antinous at the TEMPLO DE ANTÍNOO MÉXÍCO hold a Día de lost Muertos vigil for him during ceremonies at the sanctuary of Santa Muerte in Tultitlán near Mexico City.

This tradition began in 2016 with the first funeral ceremony in the name of Antinous to be held since ancient times.

Jorge Fernandez Martinez was brutally murdered by unknown assailants near his home in the Mexico City suburb of Tultitlán.

Forensic tests showed he had been tortured, raped and asphyxiated. His broken body lay undiscovered for days.

Grieving neighbors who had known and loved him for nearly 20 years held a wake and asked for dignified funeral services conducted under the auspices of Epithimia Antinous with Pride Tultitlán Committee and Estamos Contigo.

The rites were held at the famous Shrine of Santa Muerte (Our Lady of Sacred Death) in Tultítlan led by Enriqueta Vargas.

Our brothers and sisters at Foundation Epithimia of Antinous Mexico says: 

"We were honored to officiate in the funeral ceremony for the repose of the soul of this beloved person in our community, Señor Jorge Fernandez Martinez, an active member member of our because Antinous abhors hate crimes.

"We share these images of the temple, the funeral and texts shared by Adolfo Voorduin Frappe and White White Fernandez , whom graciously thank for attending the rites. We thank Santa Muerte International and the godmother Enriqueta Vargas, for their loving support," the statement says.

In Hollywood California FLAMEN ANTONIUS SUBIA announced that Jorge Fernandez Martinez became a Martyr Saint of Antinous during ceremonies on Foundation Day in October 2016.