Queer Visalia - A local gay blog

I stumbled upon this at The Times of London. It’s about a new presentation of the Roman emperor Hadrian. Nicely seasoned excerpts:

Among the most appealing sections of this show is that dedicated to Antinous, the beautiful Greek boy with whom Hadrian fell in love. Curators let the museum’s wonderful silver Warren Cup with its flagrant scenes of sodomy set the stage for a liaison which at that time was considered quite normal. What was odd, this show suggests, was the cult that ensued after Antinous’ death in a Nile flood. The mourning Hadrian not only founded an entire new city in his honour but commemorated him in various god-like incarnations including as the Egyptian deity Osiris, who (complete with perfectly polished pectorals and loincloth bulge) meets the visitor at the entrance to this show.

Sadly, the article is not illustrated. It continues:

Was it the depth of his grief that made Hadrian create this gay icon? The exhibition suggests another slant. Hadrian, the first emperor to sport a full Greek-style beard, was nicknamed “the Greekling” for his love of Hellenic culture. Now by celebrating this passion through the apotheosis of a Greek boy, he kept a potentially rebellious sector of society safely pacified. He made the Greeks feel an appreciated part of his empire. It was an adept political move.

Bright man! Full story here.