9. The Roman Emperor Hadrian Constructed a City in Egypt For His Lover Who Drowned in the Nile River
The well-traveled second-century Roman emperor Hadrian spent most of his twenty-one-year reign outside of Rome, rebuilding the empire’s infrastructure. Although Hadrian married Vibia Sabina, his predecessor Trajan’s grand-niece for political reasons, she never had his heart; that belonged to Antinous. In 123, Hadrian arrived in Claudiopolis (modern-day Bolu, Turkey) on one of his royal visits, where he met the twelve-year-old youth Antinous. The boy must have charmed Hadrian – the emperor sent Antinous to Rome for education while he finished his tour. Within five years of their first meeting, Hadrian’s love for Antinous bordered on obsession.
Hadrian returned to Italy in September 125, demanding the boy’s presence all the time, making him part of his royal retinue. Antinous joined Hadrian on another royal tour from 128-130. While visiting Egypt, Hadrian and his entourage sailed down the Nile River, where Antinous mysteriously drowned. Never before had a Roman emperor grieved for his lost companion as Hadrian mourned Antinous; the emperor deified Antinous, and he established the Egyptian city of Antinopolis on the Nile River in his dead lover’s honor. The loss of Hadrian’s great love affected his poor health, and he died eight years later in 138.