MEET MARCO ANTINOUS OF EGYPT By Flamen Antinoalis Antonius Subia

I have the pleasure to introduce someone very special. A beautiful boy who was very likely one of our brothers.

Mummy of Marco Antinous, encaustic painting on linen, the frieze of the aureus protector in gilded stucco. 

Egyptian civilisation, Roman Empire, 3rd Century. Paris, Musée Du Louvre.

The hauntingly lovely portrait from the heyday of Antinoopolis features the face of a young man with striking, realistic features painted with encaustic (wax-based paint) on thin wood panels and embellished with intricate gold-leaf details.

Portraits like these are highly treasured today. They are often known as FAYOUM PORTRAITS, after the region, near Antinoopolis, where most of them were found. There are fewer than 1,000 extant.

The Ancients believed Antinous worked miracles in the lives of his faithful followers. 

Antinous healed the sick, he granted people love and prosperity, he shielded them from peril.

Historian Royston Lambert's book Beloved and God: The Story of Hadrian and Antinous devotes a full chapter to the Religion of Antinous and mentions the miracles he was able to bring forth.

The oracle priests of Antinous could intercede with the God, or followers could appeal directly to Antinous:
 

"There is evidence of oracles at Tarsos and perhaps at Rome itself," Lambert writes. "No doubt it was through these pronouncements and visitations that he wrought miracles and healing for which he evidently became famous in the east."

In many areas, people named their children Antinous in the fervent belief that he would watch over and protect their offspring all their lives.

Marco Antinous undoubtedly is one of these children named after Antinous ... undoubtedly a follower of Antinous ... we hail Marco Antinous as our brother in Antinous!

~ANTONIUS SUBIA

WHAT COLOR HAIR DID ANTINOUS HAVE? By Flamen Antinoalis Antonius Subia

Amidst all the reconstruction faces of Antinous showing him with sandy or blond hair, Antonius Subia has written this explanation for why Antinous must have had dark hair:

Antonius Subia: The Curium Hymnus inscription from Cyprus describes Antinous as “purple-haired” which seems to imply that his hair was dark...it is the only description of his appearance that has been discovered.

One day people will stop portraying him with blonde hair...but it’s gonna take a while I guess...it just doesn’t look or feel anything like him to me...but again...Antinous can manifest in any color he chooses now that he is a god.

The inscription is Greek, I checked the text again and it literally says “Dark Haired”

This is the line:

αδω ιοβοστρυχε καλλικομη μακαρ βειθυνιε πορφυρεωπα

αδο - lovely or lilting

Ιοβοστρυχε - dark-haired

Καλλικομη- beautiful locks

μακαρ - blessed

βειθυνιε - Bithynian

πορφυρεωπα -purple-seeming

Porphyriopa = Purple-like

Iobostruche =Dark Haired

Those are the only two descriptions of his appearance anywhere in the ancient texts...this is why I am quite sure he was dark haired with reddish brown highlights in the sun...the Purplish description I think is a poetic way of explaining the glimmer and texture of his beautiful hair...the poet may have actually seen him in life and was struck by his amazing hair.

There are those keep saying hopefully one day there will be proof of what he looked like...well here it is and it says he was Dark Haired.

Antinous did not use hair dye, good grief, and the word “red” is completely misleading...the “red” traces of pigment discovered on his statue were not “red” ... they were brown, a natural earth pigment like burn sienna. 

I don’t know why they called it red, its not red and it was faded from its original color which was mostly likely darker brown, I’ve seen it, it looks like someone spilled coffee on the statue and couldn’t get it out of the cracks. 

Antinous did not have Red or Auburn hair, or brown hair with auburn highlights, if he did the poet would have said that, but he didn’t he said “Dark Haired” which is exactly what it sounds like Dark Hair, no one has ever described red, brown or auburn hair as Dark Hair.

The word Porpyriopa is a poetic description and it may not even refer to his hair it may be a poetic description of Antinous himself ... that he was Purple-to-the-eye, or Imperial ... the same word is used to describe Hadrian’s chest where Antinous rests his head.

The word porphyry in ancient Greek refers to a whole range of purple colors including blue-purple violet like the spectrum color.

I am sure the poet does not mean that his hair was the color of Porphyry stone and definitely not the Tyrian Purple from the murex snail. 

If it is a description of his hair, I think it means that his hair was so DARK that it was purple, the way that we call the darkest shades of black hair, so dark that they are blue. 

When the poet says porphyry he (or she) may have meant blue-purple dark hair, but definitely a natural dark color or actual hair. The word Porphyry may not even be describing a color because it also implies Imperial Granduer which Antinous may have displayed.

The line reads:

“Lovely Dark-haired beautiful-locks, blessed Bithinia, purple to the eye”

The “purple-to-the-eye” may refer to his aura and bearing and not mean his hair at all.

Bottom line...the one thing it clearly says it that Antinous was Dark Haired.

By contrast, earlier in the poem it described Apollo as “Radiant Haired”.

That is an important contrast, Apollo, who we know is blonde is described as “radiant hair” while the same poet described Antinous as “dark-haired” “purplish”.

That is a very clear difference. Red or auburn hair is always described by ancients as fire or flame or something that implies heat or warmth not that different from Apollo’s radiant blonde hair...but Antinous is Dark and Purple but not burgundy or maroon these are not natural human hair colors.

His hair was so dark it was purple ... I think this is so wonderful and beautiful.

~ ANTONIUS SUBIA

ASTRO FORECAST: APRIL 23rd—MAY 3rd, 2026

Antinous is a Moon God. He is, of course, many other things and he wears many hats. But one of the ways he was worshiped in Antiquity was as ANTINOUS THE MOON GOD.

His worshipers looked skyward and saw His beautiful face perpetually turned towards the Earth. The Man in the Moon was actually the Blessed Boy in the Moon for the ancient priests and worshipers of Antinous. Swiftest and most youthful of all the Zodiacal deities, Antinous speeds through an entire year's worth of Astrological signs in just 28 days.

ANTINOUS THE MOON GOD represents our deepest personal needs, our basic habits and reactions, and our unconscious gay selves. Where Hadrian the Sun acts, Antinous the Moon REACTS. How do we instinctively react or respond to problems? What do we feel we need for a sense of security? Look to ANTINOUS THE MOON GOD for answers.

ANTINOUS THE MOON GOD is both our inner boy child and our inner lover. His ever changing phases, as he sweeps past all the other Planets in all the Signs, make us at turns responsive, receptive, and reflective. Eternally youthful, ANTINOUS THE MOON GOD represents our childlike spontaneous and instinctual reactions.

ANTINOUS THE MOON GOD beams down on us to make us imaginative, creative, intuitive, sentimental, adaptable, introspective, and protective. On the negative side, and depending on where he is in the Zodiac, he can make us moody, restless, and irrational.

Antinous Astrology Forecast

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APRIL 23rd
to MAY 3rd, 2026

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THURSDAY, APRIL 23rd, 2026

Overnight Thursday-Friday, we come to the Leo First Quarter Moon. It is the Lunar Phase in Antinous Moon Magic which we call the SCARAB MOON of miracles and wish-fulfillment. Meditations and rituals carried out tonight can result in an unexpected breakthrough. Eureka! Unanticipated solution. Fortuitous surprise. Sudden change for the better. Plucking victory from the jaws of defeat. An oracle reading or meditative trance can produce a sudden answer for transformation of a bad situation into something profitable,.

FRIDAY, APRIL 24th, 2026

This week, Venus leaves dependable Taurus and enters flirty Gemini. If you have been thinking about spreading your wings and diversifying your love life, the coming weeks is the time to do it. Gemini Venus is also a good time to diversify money matters. Love and money will be "up in the air" for the next month, so be flexible and in order to take advantage of the airy opportunities.

SATURDAY, APRIL 25th, 2026

This weekend, a major cosmic event occurs when Uranus, planet of revolutionary change, leaves plodding Taurus and soars into flighty Gemini. URANUS IN GEMINI often coincides with armed conflict. In Antinous Moon Magic, we know that war is not inevitable with Uranus in Gemini, and of course not every war happens during this configuration. But we can use our voice during Uranus in Gemini to improve matters. Never be afraid to raise your voice. The worst thing to do is to sit in silence. Never cruel nor cowardly! Never give up! Never give in! We have the power ... the stars confirm it.

SUNDAY, APRIL 26th, 2026

This weekend, the LGBT spiritual revolution gets a massive boost when the Sun is in a 90-degree right angle to Pluto, which is aligned in near conjunction with the star of Antinous on the cusp between Capricorn and Aquarius ... sending transformative energies that can radically alter gay spirituality for centuries to come. Pluto takes more than 250 years to orbit the Sun. This time around, Pluto is once again revolutionizing global political and economic structures along with communications systems. This is an opportunity for LGBT advancement that will not come again in our lifetimes. More on how Pluto and the Star of Antinous can change your life: PLUTO ALIGNS WITH THE STAR OF ANTINOUS..

MONDAY, APRIL 27th, 2026

This week is a great time to take in an art exhibit ... or create art yourself ... Gemini Venus is in a creative sextile aspect with Aries Neptune. Trust your intuition on all matters of money and love. And when you go out this week, you can expect excitement because Aries Neptune loves excitement.

TUESDAY, APRIL 28th, 2026

This week, Mercury is in a tight, 90-degree square angle to Jupiter. Beware of online websites that promote gross exaggerations or promises that sound too good to be true — because most likely they aren't true. Or on a whim, you might take on a large assignment on the mistaken belief that you can easily manage it, when in fact it overwhelms you. Moderation and caution are the keywords for Mercury square Jupiter. On the other hand: don't be so cautious that you fail to buy a lottery ticket — because Mercury square Jupiter can sometimes favor the underdog with unexpected good fortune.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29th, 2026

This week, love planet Venus is in a powerful trine aspect with Pluto. Gemini Venus is looking for someone to share a convivial with, while Aquarius Pluto is looking for an intellectual mate. So this Venus trine Pluto configuration can help you find your soul mate.

THURSDAY, APRIL 30th, 2026

This week, Mercury conjunction with the minor planet CHIRON IN ARIES signifies a powerful, transformative period where mental wounds and insecurities are brought to light to be healed through communication, learning, and self-expression. This aspect, often described as the "Wounded Healer" connecting with the mind, turns personal vulnerabilities into sources of profound wisdom and empathetic communication.

FRIDAY, MAY 1st, 2026

This week, we come to the Scorpio Full Moon ... a moon for penetrating the veil of lies and illusion and seeing clearly who are your friends (and who are not) and also seeing yourself for what you are. For that reason, we call it the ENEMY MOON in Antinous Moon Magic.

SAT-SUNDAY, MAY 2nd-3rd, 2026

This weekend, Mercury leaves feisty Aries and glides into grounded Taurus to focus on financial stability and home comfort. You can expect difficulties because Taurus Mercury immediately squares off against Pluto, which is in Aquarius and is grimly determined to revolutionize communications and social media. Mercury and Pluto will focus wrestle with online banking and crypto-currency controversies on and off until Mercury enters chatty Gemini on 17th May 2026.

SNEAK PREVIEW OF NEXT WEEK:

Another exciting week lies ahead between May 4th and 10th, 2026, when the Moon squares off against the Sun for the Aquarius Third Quarter Moon which in Antinous Moon Magic we call the FORUM MOON. This is the best Lunar Phase of the year for oracles or spell work involving interaction with groups or a public setting. Gathering place. Club. Work place. Any place where numerous people gather. It is also the best moon for rituals focusing on parks, gardens and the outdoors in general, such as working rituals for protecting a back garden or outdoor venue ... More details next time ....

THE LEO FIRST QUARTER MOON THE SCARAB MOON OF ANTINOUS

TONIGHT's Leo First Quarter Moon is the Lunar Phase in Antinous Moon Magic which we call the SCARAB MOON of sudden breakthroughs.

Each Lunar Phase represents a Divine Spirit or Archetype. The Spirit of the Scarab Moon is the element of surprise and serendipity. It is the Spirit of adventure which whispers into your ear: Go ahead! You can do it!

It is the Spirit of boundless enthusiasm and optimism. This Spirit holds the key which unlocks every door. It is the Spirit that guarantees happy endings. It points out good things which are coming your way definitely and for sure!

The symbolism is the Egyptian scarab winging its way sunward. The humble Egyptian dung beetle represents religio-magical transformation and indeed the Ancient Egyptian word for this beetle, "kheper," means "transform" or "become."

The beetle rolls a ball of dung to a hiding place and lays its eggs within the ball. The hatched larvae feed on the dung and emerge to transform into winged beetles which fly through the day time skies.

Thus the dung ball became associated with the orb of the sun, and the scarab holds a solar orb instead of a dung ball. This religio-magical transformation implied to the Egyptians that Earthly mortals could also undergo a transfiguration from base matter into celestial star matter. The scarab symbolizes serendipitously magical transformation.

The Leo First Quarter Moon in the sign of the sun-ruled sign of the lion, is a moon of bold new opportunities which were heralded by the Taurus New Moon (the Marcus Aurelius Moon) and which will become realized through the transformative power of the Scorpio Full Moon (the Enemy Moon).

Meditations and rituals carried out tonight can result in an unexpected breakthrough. Eureka! Unanticipated solution. Fortuitous surprise. Sudden change for the better. Plucking victory from the jaws of defeat.An oracle reading or meditative trance can produce a sudden answer for transformation of a bad situation into something profitable.

IT'S CITRINE FOR THE SCARAB MOON By Our Crystal Meditation Advisor Martin Campbell

OUR astrological expert Hernestus describes the coming Leo First Quarter Moon phase as the SCARAB MOON of miracles and wish-fulfillment, unanticipated solutions and fortuitous surprises.

We all want the wave of the magical fairy wand or sprinkle of fairy dust. What is fairy dust? Well I have always assumed it was crystal dust...

So, for crystal enhanced meditations this moon phase I would recommend the following crystals:

Citrine - (top of entry) It helps you to accept the positive flow of energies that will take you to where you sub-consciously (or even consciously) know you really need to be (physically, emotionally or spiritually). 

Orange Calcite - (left above) These pretty stones remove fear and balance the emotion so that you are open and ready for positives to enter your life.

Emerald - As beautifully faceted gem stones they are, of course, a wonderful surprise gifts! They also enhance the enjoyment of the world and all it brings.

Love and Light,

MARTIN

To get more advice from Martin Campbell and to find out how to contact him CLICK HERE.

'THE LOVE GOD' BY MARTIN CAMPBELL IS A BRILLIANT NOVEL ABOUT ANTINOUS

FOR World Book Day, April 23rd: The most brilliant novel about Antinous to appear in over half a century ... THE LOVE GOD ... is authored by our own MARTINUS CAMPBELL, priest of Antinous.

While that sounds like biased praise, we Antinomaniacs are hard to please and would not hesitate to pick apart a poorly researched book or one that denigrated Antinous, even if it were written by one of our best friends ... perhaps especially if it were. 

At the same time, a sycophantic book that presented Antinous as being cloyingly sweet and angelic would be unbearable and not believable.

So we are gratified (and greatly relieved) to report that this book truly is a remarkable work of historical fiction right up there with Marguerite Yourcenar's landmark MEMOIRS OF HADRIAN 60 years ago.

Martin traces the life of Antinous from the moment his tousle-haired head emerges from his mother's womb under auspicious stars in Asia Minor to the moment his head sinks beneath the swirling waters of the Nile on a starry evening in Egypt.

Antinous comes to life as a young man of breath-taking beauty who is filled with conflicting passions and loyalties. He is a young man who at times is naive, yet at other times worldly wise with an ability to see the world as it is ... and to describe it with at times brutal honesty to the most powerful man in the world.

Above all, this is a gentle love story between Antinous and Emperor Hadrian, himself a man of contradictory passions and priorities.

Martin himself is a man shares these passions. He has rebounded from a series of debilitating strokes to resume a daunting array of political activism for LGBTIU health and rights issues ... while working on this novel.

Based in a hilltop home overlooking the sea in Brighton England, he spent the best part of a decade researching this novel, retracing the footsteps of Antinous across Greece and Italy, as far north as Hadrian's Wall and as far south as the Nile in Upper Egypt.

Historical facts are excruciatingly accurate ... even the positions of the stars and planets at the moment of the birth of Antinous have been calculated to precision.

An academic scholar can read this book with satisfaction, noting obscure and arcane references which only the experts in the field of Antinology fully appreciate.

At the same time, however, this is a fun book to read even for those who have never heard of Antinous in their lives and who have no firm grasp of Roman civilization in the 2nd Century AD.

There is intrigue, skulduggery, near-death by lightning, getting lost in a subterranean labyrinth, a storm at sea, earthquakes ... and some fairly hot man sex as well, albeit tastefully brought to the page.

The narrator is the Classical Love God himself: Eros. He shoots his amorous arrows and ensures that Antinous and Hadrian fulfill the destiny which the Fates have in store for them ... despite efforts by certain people in the Imperial Court to thwart the Fates.

But the genius of this book is that there are no black-and-white villains or heroes. Antinous is a young man with all the problems and drives of late adolescence. Hadrian is a man with a mid-life crisis of doubt and regret.

Others such as Empress Sabina and her constant companion Julia Balbilla and their coterie of fawning courtiers and freedmen are not really hateful towards Antinous so much as they are simply perplexed by him. 

They view him the way some members of the Royal Household might look at the favorite Corgi of the Queen, unable to comprehend her affection for it, her grief when it dies.

They whisper amongst themselves: What hold does Antinous have over Hadrian? 

Just who does he think he is? And is he a threat to them? 

What is so different about Antinous that Hadrian doesn't grow weary of him ... as he always has with previous toy boys? 

Because they cannot understand how he fits in the scheme of Imperial court life, some really rather wish he would just disappear ... voluntarily or otherwise. 

And through it all is the boyhood friend of Antinous who has accompanied him on this long journey with mixed feelings and with growing envy and jealousy. 

The boiling emotions all stem from Eros, who winks knowingly at the reader as he shoots one arrow after another with unerring accuracy to ensure that Antinous fulfills his destiny ... to take his place alongside Eros as a God of Love.

The result is a richly entertaining and beautifully written novel which appeals to those seeking authoritative scholarly accuracy as well as readers who just want a riveting and memorable adventure yarn.

The Love God is available as Kindle and as a paperback ... CLICK HERE to order.

ON EARTH DAY ANTINOUS IS IN YOU HERE AND NOW

FOR us in the Northern Hemisphere it is Spring. For us in the Southern Hemisphere it is Autumn. For Antinous, all moments in time are NOW, all locations in space are HERE ... in your spiritual heart ... HOMOTHEOSIS ... Gay-Man-Godliness-Becoming-the-Same.

Dia da Terra. Para nós no hemisfério norte é Primavera. Para nós no  Hemisfério Sul é de Outono. Para Antinous, todos os momentos no tempo é agora, todos os locais no espaço são AQUI ... em seu coração espiritual ... HOMOTHEOSIS ... Homem-Deus-Gay-tornou-se o mesmo que-Homem-Deus-Gay.

Día de la Tierra para nosotros en el hemisferio norte es la primavera . Para nosotros en el hemisferio sur es otoño . Para Antinoo , todos los momentos del tiempo están ahora , todos los lugares en el espacio está aquí ... en su corazón espiritual ... HOMOTHEOSIS ... Gay-Hombre-Dios-Ser-el-mismo-como-Gay-Hombre-Dios .