TODAY'S installment is the fifth in the Heart of Antinous. So far, we have discussed that the heart of Antinous is full of wonder, brave, compassion and duty.
Today we will add to that of SEEKER.
First, lets look at Hadrian. He was a man who himself was a seeker. He was the only Emperor to have traveled the entire Empire of Rome.
He was always interested in new ways of improving not only the empire but himself.
For Antinous to have been with Hadrian he too had to possess the same qualities. If not, Hadrian would have been bored quickly and Antinous replaced.
So Antinous had many of the same interest as Hadrian.
Not only did Antinous also seek knowledge but above all else spiritual knowledge.
We know of at least six times Antinous was initiated into varies mystery cults.
Each of these cults possessed their own spiritual knowledge so, within these cults Antinous was seeking wisdom and knowledge far beyond the mundane world.
What do you seek in Antinous?
AVE ANTINOUS!
PRIEST MICHAELUS
TODAY'S installment on the Heart of Antinous is DUTY.
One of the definitions of duty is a moral or legal obligation; a responsibility.
I think as Antinous grew older and the relationship between him and Hadrian also grew Antinous realized he had a duty or obligation to perform.
There is nothing written that because of the relationship he had with Hadrian that Antinous took advantage of it. He did not seek to use his position for any personal gain.
Antinous knew the duty or responsibility he had. He was just a boy from a Roman colony, possibly from a family of no means.
Antinous did realize that his duty was to love the Emperor Hadrian with all his heart.
And this is the greatest example of DUTY that Antinous gives us is the DUTY OF LOVE.
If you claim to be a follower of Antinous then your responsibility, your obligation, your responsibility is to Love as Antinous loved Hadrian.
This is but one aspect of HOMOTHEOSIS: Gay-Man-Godliness-Becoming-The-Same.
AVE ANTINOUS!
PRIEST MICHAELUS
THE third installment on the Heart of Antinous is Compassion. His compassion for animals especially dogs is evident.
His Compassion for people.
The first miracle Antinous performed as a God was the inundation of the Nile.
Saving millions of people throughout the empire.
The East Face of the Obelisk, which is aligned to the rising sun Ra-Herakhte, speaks of the joy that fills the heart of Antinous since having been summoned to meet his heavenly father Ra-Herakhte and to become a god himself.
And Antinous immediately calls upon Hapi ...
Hapi, progenitor of the gods,
On behalf of Hadrian and Sabina,
Arrange the inundation in fortuitous time
To make fertile and bountiful, the fields
Of Both Upper and Lower Egypt!
Lastly the Compassion Antinous had for the love of his life, Emperor Hadrian.
The truth surrounding the death of Antinous,is still a mystery but the most likely reason is that Antinous gave his life so to prolong the life of Hadrian.
So what are your thoughts in relation to the Heart of Antinous and his Compassion?
AVE ANTINOUS!
PRIEST MICHAELUS
THE next installment on the Heart of Antinous is Bravery.
It takes a lot to be brave. Just imagine any soldier facing a battle or coming out to your family and friends.
In the case of our Gay God Antinous the heart of bravery was shown when he left home to go to Rome.
Also, to face the fierce lion of Libya and most of all how brave against all odds to be in love with the Emperor of Rome.
Of course, there are many more instances of Bravery that our God Antinous encountered. I have named just a slight few.
What are your thoughts on the bravery that is in the heart of Antinous?
AVE ANTINOUS!
PRIEST MICHAELUS
THIS Roman marble head of Antinous as Dionysus sold at auction at Sotheby's in London today for £75,000 ... approximately $95,000.
Details of the auction are HERE.
Sotheby's describes it as a head which would have crowned a monumental cult statue.
It shows the Antinous head wearing the attributes of Dionysos, in much the same way as another colossal statue ... the Braschi Antinous ... in the Vatican.
Antinous’ characteristic unruly hair is bound in a diadem, surmounted by a wreath of ivy leaves, berries and clusters of grapes hanging from the sides.
There is a hole above the forehead for insertion of a headdress, a vertical channel for a lead lamp above the nape of the neck. There have been no restorations.
Height 40 cm... height of face approx. 18 cm.
It is thought to have been part of the stock of Galerie Segredakis in Paris prior to World War II.
OVER the next several days I want to share and also get your thoughts. The topic is: The Heart of Antinous.
When you think about the heart of Antinous, what comes to mind?
Recently I set up a larger working altar that when visitors come over there is a place for us to meet.
After sitting up the altar I just sat in front of it and felt I needed to grab some paper and write what I was feeling.
So The Heart of Antinous came about.
Now this is not in any order, just thoughts that were impressed upon me.
The first on The Heart of Antinous is. His heart was full of wonder. As he traveled first from his home to Rome and then with Hadrian the things he saw and witnessed. The magnificence of Rome, Greece and Egypt. The mighty Pyramids of Giza. All this and more were breathtaking to Antinous.
AVE ANTINOUS!
PRIEST MICHAELUS
ON July 1st, 1893, this historic photograph was taken of the discovery of one of the most beautiful statues of Antinous ever found.
French archaeologists were in the process of uncovering this statue at the Temple of Apollo at Delphi in Greece when the photographer asked the diggers to pose for posterity.
Hadrian and Antinous visited Delphi and were initiated into Mysteries.
The Delphi Antinous statue was found standing perfectly upright, which indicates that it had been very carefully buried by the priests so as to protect it from marauding Christians. Apparently this statue was considered to be very special.
There are many larger-than- life statues of Antinous. And there are many busts. But the Delphi is one of the few life-size statues, and Johnston said it is possible that it was indeed modeled from the living Antinous.
If that was indeed the case, then it is possible, according to John J Johnston, a leading expert on Antinous, that Antinous was 5-foot-8 (173 cms) in height.
Owing to the long exposure time, the photographer asked the workmen to stand still (or as still as possible) for what must have seemed like an eternity to these simple men (one or two looking like a young Antinous) while the shutter was open.
This photo is one of the most emotionally touching portraits of ANTINOUS THE GAY GOD. It proves that the Ancient Priests of Antinous took special care to hide their precious statue from the barbarians. They didn't just dump Him into a hole -- they carefully buried Him standing upright with dignity!!
The photo is superb ... Antinous stands eternally in focus in the center ... the mortal men are blurred like the flames of votive candles which flicker briefly and go out ... only Antinous endures.
One young Antinous-looking man's face is in focus ... representing those few mortals who look into the Mysteries of Antinous....
