Antinous was the lover and beloved of Roman Emperor Hadrian between 123AD and 130AD. Hadrian and Antinous spent much of their time together at Hadrian’s Villa Tivoli, roughly 30km outside of Rome. Theirs was one of the great love stories of all time. While on a trip to Egypt in 130AD, Antinous drowned in the Nile River. Hadrian was devastated and never emotionally recovered the loss of his lover until his own death in 138AD. Hadrian declared Antinous a God. Temples were built in his honor in Egypt and throughout the Roman Empire. Thousands of statues and busts were made of his likeness that survive today. The city of Antinopolis was built on the Nile near the place of his death and the Antinoan athletic games were held in his honor for almost 500 years.