WE JOYOUSLY CELEBRATE THE FLORALIA

ANTINOUS assuredly took part in the Floralia, a multi-day Roman feast which started on April 27th in the Republic era, but which began on April 28th in the Imperial era when the Beauteous Boy lived during the reign of Emperor Hadrian.

This day was the start of the Floralia, the Roman festival of Flora, goddess of flowers, actors, sex workers, comedies, comic theatre. 

The festival had a licentious, pleasure-seeking atmosphere. In contrast to many festivals which had a patrician character, the Games of Flora were plebeian in nature.

New comedy plays premiered in the theatres. There may have been nocturnal observances, since sources mention measures taken to light the way after the theatrical performances.

In contrast to the Cerealia, when white garments were worn, bright and colorful clothing was customary during the Floralia.

There was dancing and revelry of every sort. Ovid says that hares and goats ... animals considered fertile and salacious ... were ceremonially released as part of the festivities. 

Persius says that the crowd was pelted with peas, beans, and lupins ... all of them also symbols of fertility.

Professional sex workers participated in the Floralia as well as the wine Vinalia festival which commenced on April 23. 

According to the satirist Juvenal, prostitutes danced naked and fought in mock gladiator combat.

Adorn yourself and your home. Make libations of milk and honey to Flora and to Antinous.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MARCUS AURELIUS

ON April 26th the Religion of Antinous joyously celebrates the birth of one of the wisest rulers in history, a man hand-picked by the Divine Hadrian personally to become Emperor of Rome.

Marcus Annius Verus was born on this day in the year 121 to a Spanish Roman family, related to Hadrian. From the very start, the young Marcus showed a deep interest in learning and particularly in philosophy.

The Stoic philosopher Epictetus had the most profound influence over him, and his truthful and pious nature gained Hadrian's attention and Hadrian is said to have called him "Verissimus", or most truthful, and to have taken an interest in the future of the young philosopher.

Marcus would have been 9 years old when Antinous died, and he is not believed to have been with the court in Egypt.

When Aelius Ceasar died shortly after being chosen Emperor in 138, it is believed that Marcus was Hadrian's next choice. However, the ailing and grieving emperor felt that the 17-year-old Marcus was too young.

So Hadrian decided to elect Antoninus Pius instead, requiring Antoninus to choose Marcus and the son of Lucius, called Lucius Verus, to be Antoninus's successors in turn.

This became known as the Dynasty of the Antonines, the last flowering of the glory that was Imperial Rome.

Hadrian believed that the old Antoninus would only rule for the few years needed to allow Marcus to mature. But instead, Antoninus remained in power far longer than Hadrian, and Marcus was 40 years old when he at last took power.

But the Empire that he inherited was succumbing to more and more trouble along its borders, as the Germanic hordes began their slow migration across the borders. The Philosopher-King Marcus was doomed to spend the majority of his reign leading the armies along the cold northern border.

He was successful in keeping the barbarians outside the Empire, and in maintaining the peace and prosperity in the heart of Rome that had been left to him by Hadrian and Antoninus.

We celebrate the birthday of Imperator Caesar Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus.

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.