WE CELEBRATE THE NEPTUNALIA AND HONOR ANTINOUS LINKS TO NEPTUNE

THE 23rd of July is the ancient Roman Neptunalia festival, when Romans honored Neptune with feasting and frivolity.

Although identified with the Greek Poseidon, god of the sea, the Roman Neptune was originally god of fresh water and prayed to at this time of year to prevent drought.

Coins minted by a priest of Antinous in Corinth show Antinous with Neptune/Poseidon. 

More clues to the link between Antinous and Neptune come from the Black Sea coast.

Experts working at a dig on the Black Sea coast in Bulgaria say they have found a well-preserved altar to Poseidon/Neptune which suggests the surrounding ruins were once a major temple to the god of the seas.

Archaeologists found the building in front of the medieval fortified wall of the seaside town of Sozopol, according to Bozhidar Dimitrov, director of Bulgaria’s National History Museum.

It is a little-known fact that Antinous was associated in a gay context with the classical god of the seas, called Poseidon by the Greeks and Neptune by the Romans.

Coins minted by a priest of Antinous at Corinth named HOSTILIUS MARCELLUS (from whom our own Julien Hostilius Marcellus takes his priestly name) show Antinous as Neptune/Poseidon.

It is a reference to the myth that Poseidon became enthralled with another marine male deity, Nerites, who was said to be the handsomest of all males on Earth, in the Heavens or in the Seas.

The sexual union of Poseidon and Nerites produced Anteros, god of requited love.

In those days, few people could read or write, but everyone knew these myths. So anyone who held one of these Antinous/Poseidon coins could "read" the gay symbolism.

So any discovery concerning Neptune/Poseidon is of great interest to us, since the dig could ultimately reveal Antinous-related artefacts.

At the Sozopol site, Dimitrov said that the numerous pieces of marble found during excavations indicate that the temple was destroyed after the declaration of Christianity as the official religion of the Roman empire in 330 AD.

The structure was partially pulled down and partially reconfigured as a Christian house of worship dedicated to a Christian saint, whose iconography was similar to that of the ancient god Neptune.

Dimitrov said that in Sozopol, there was a simiar example of how a temple to the Thracian horseman in the centre of the old town was converted into a church dedicated to Saint George, riding a horse to slay a demon dragon.

He said, according to a report by local news agency Focus, that in the case of the temple to Neptune – the god of the sea – the time of its destruction saw the building of a Christian church a very short distance away, dedicated to Saint Nicholas, the patron saint of fishermen and sailors.

STAGE PLAY PREMIERES TONIGHT AT HADRIAN'S VILLA CANOPUS POOL

ON July 23 and 24, 2026, at 9:00 p.m., the Canopus Reflecting Pool Arena at Hadrian's Villa Adriana in Tivoli will host "Memoirs of Hadrian," a play based on the novel of the same name by Marguerite Yourcenar, starring Alessandro Preziosi as the Roman emperor and directed by him.

The play also features Elisa Di Eusanio, with set design by Alfredo Pirri, costumes by Alessandro Lai, and music by Giacomo Vezzani. The performance takes place within the archaeological setting of Villa Adriana, where the theater interacts with the spaces of the ancient imperial residence.

The production explores the portrait of Hadrian through the writer's words, following the inner journey of a man caught between his public role as emperor and his search for his own identity. The character brought to life by Yourcenar thus becomes a figure capable of exploring universal themes such as love and death, desire and beauty, destiny, and the precariousness of power.

The text recounts the imaginary encounter between the writer and her literary creation, Emperor Hadrian, imagined in the final moments of his life on the shores of the Mediterranean as he confronts the approach of death. Through theatrical language, the production reconstructs the dialogue between memory and the present, bringing to life the reflections of a man who looks back on his own existence and the meaning of his choices.

The production is by PATO srl, in collaboration with the Teatro Stabile d'Abruzzo, with support from the MIC, Villa Adriana, Villa d'Este, and the General Directorate of Museums.

ASTRO FORECAST: JULY 23rd—AUGUST 2nd, 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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JULY 23rd
to AUGUST 2nd, 2026

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THURS-FRIDAY, JULY 23rd-24th, 2026

Aren't you tired of all the computer glitches, "lost" files, travel delays and snafus of recent weeks? Take heart! Now Mercury does an about-face and starts going forward again as seen from Earth, ending three weeks of Retrograde "backwards" travel. So you can safely message friends and co-workers a prediction that certain "lost" computer files or parcels will show up by the time they go to work tomorrow morning. Mercury going backwards creates this sort of impish mayhem with matters concerning communications, documents and money. Misplaced tickets, keys, "lost" computer files, letters and packages which vanish into postal limbo ... all are typical of Retrograde Mercury. The "lost" things turn up again as if by magic when Mercury goes Direct again. A skilled astrologer, Hadrian no doubt amazed his courtiers by accurately predicting when some "lost" document or wayward courier message would finally re-appear out of no where.

SAT-SUNDAY, JULY 25th-26th, 2026

This week, expect a message from someone special when we enjoy a Mercury sextile Venus aspect which enhances communicative skills. You may get a message from a business partner or from a friend or lover who ignites interests that quicken your pulse just in time for the coming work week.

MON-TUESDAY, JULY 27th-28th, 2026

This week, we come to the AQUARIUS FULL MOON. This is the summertime moon of generous gifts which we associate with Antinous/Vertumnus, the shape-shifting God of summertime bounty and generous gifts. We call this the DONUM MOON when magical rituals are performed for fortuitous gifts.

WED-FRIDAY, JULY 29th-31st, 2026

This week, an incredibly rare "Cosmic Cradle" configuration occurs which we have never seen before in our lifetimes, ushering in what many astrologers are predicting will be a new age of enlightenment and political and economic reform. In Antinous Moon Magic, we call this the ANTINOUS BOUQUET BASKET of Cosmic Bright Blessings. Four planets will lock into a geometric pattern that a French astrologer named André Barbault predicted would mark a major change in civilization in the year 2026. Barbault was a renowned 20th Century French Astrologer who predicted significant world events including Fall of the Berlin Wall and the 2020 Pandemic. This "Cosmic Cradle" configuration, also called "Barbault's Basket," involves these four outer planets: Jupiter in Leo, Uranus in Gemini, Neptune in Aries, and Pluto in Aquarius. Each will occupy ten degrees of their respective signs. In other words, even though these planets will be in different parts of the zodiac, they will all occupy ten degrees of their individual signs. This creates a beautiful web of supportive aspects. This pattern includes a dynamic direct opposition between Jupiter and Pluto, and three synergistic sextiles between Jupiter and Uranus, Uranus and Neptune, and Neptune and Pluto. We also see two harmonious talent trines. Also known as a wedge pattern, a talent trine is a "minor grand trine" formed by one trine (a 120-degree aspect) and two sextiles (60-degree aspects). One talent trine is formed between Jupiter, Uranus, and Neptune, and the other between Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto. Talent trines are minor trines which symbolize untapped potential, brilliance, synchronicity, and serendipity. In Western astrology, this intricate pattern is known as a Cradle pattern, which is also a semi-hexagon or half-hexagon. In sacred geometry, a semi-hexagon is considered to be a unifying form that bridges dualities. It represents the holy trinity of creation, balance, and manifestation. The Cradle is widely regarded in astrology as a highly inventive and constructive configuration ... a wellspring that may herald the birth of something unusual, innovative and grand in scale.

SAT-SUNDAY, AUGUST 1st-2nd, 2026

This weekend, the Sun aligns with Jupiter in stalwart Leo to enhance your radiant self-confidence. This is your lucky day for a new start. Remember the birth of Dionysus! In Classical Mythology Zeus/Jupiter often visited mortals in disguise, for his radiance was too dazzling for mortals to behold ... rather like the Sun in conjunction with Jupiter. In the story of the birth of Dionysus, we see that Semele Princess of Thebes had been made pregnant by Jupiter in disguise. Semele later became curious about his true appearance. So, Semele decided to ask Zeus to grant her a wish, and he took an oath on the river Styx that he would give her anything. She asked that he appear to her in all his glory. Jupiter was forced to comply. However, mortals could not look upon Jupiter without bursting into flames, which is what happened to Semele. Jupiter managed to save the unborn baby by sewing it inside his thigh. A few months later, god Dionysus was born, who managed to save his mother from the Underworld and brought her to Mount Olympus, where she became the goddess Thyone. Antinous traditionally has been identified with Dionysus "Twice Born" of mortal woman and divine radiance. Antinous/Dionysus reminds you that you are HOMOTHEOSIS ... Gay Man Godliness Becoming the Same in Divine Radiance.

SNEAK PREVIEW OF NEXT WEEK:

Another exciting week lies ahead between August 3rd and 9th, 2026, when we come to the Taurus Third Quarter Moon — the LUCIUS MOON OF BROTHERS — when we honor Lucius Aelius, who was like a brother to Antinous in the imperial court of Hadrian ... More details next time ....

THE HELIACAL RISING OF THE DOG STAR

THE "Dog Days" are here! In Ancient Egypt, the "Heliacal Rising of Sirius" occurred in mid-July ... but over the course of many centuries it now occurs in late July or early August (in the Northern Hemisphere). 

But depending on where you live on our planet, you may see Sirius/Sothis rising just before dawn any day now ... as nighttime turns to daytime.

During the daytime, look to the sun and you see Antinous conjoined with Ra-Herakhte, Apollo, Invictus, Horus, Mithras, Belenus, Balder, Huitzilopochtli and countless other solar deities. ANTONIUS SUBIA offers this prayer: 

Arise in Me…Sothis,

Let me be cleansed

Let me be renewed

Let the Inundation flood

Across the heart

Dog Star Returns

A New Antinous coming forth

To set the soul in order

To purify with clear water

That we may be whole again

~FLAMEN ANTONIUS SUBIA

THE VENUS MOON OF ANTINOUS THE LIBRA FIRST QUARTER MOON

TONIGHT's Libra First Quarter Moon is the beautiful moon of balance and equilibrium at right angles to the emotional Cancer Sun which we call the VENUS MOON in Antinous Moon Magic.

The Libra First Quarter Moon is about flexibility and seeking balance between extremes enroute to the stability of the Capricorn Full Moon. This is the Lunar Phase which enhances nurturing and maternal instincts. It brings out the "inner mother" in each of us and reminds us that maternal love can be fierce and fearsome.

Each Lunar Phase represents a Divine Spirit or Archetype. The Spirit of the Sabina Moon is the Spirit of Motherhood and also the Spirit of the Caduceus. It is the Maternal Spirit which is soullessly devoted to its offspring and which will do anything to protect its babies.

It is at the same time the Spirit of the Serpent Goddess who writhes and coils. It is the Spirit which stops at nothing to achieve its aims. It is poison. And it is medicine.

It is the most slippery Lunar Spirit, the one which is most difficult to grasp. And it is quite possibly the most influential because it is the mother of all the others.

We remember Venus Genetrix (Venus Universal Mother), who was honored by every emperor after Julius Caesar as the Mother of Rome. In the time of Antinous, Venus Genetrix was identified with Empress Sabina Augusta, wife of Emperor Hadrian.  Much has been said over the centuries about how the marriage was a "sham" and that Hadrian and Sabina did not care for each other.

But the historical record shows that Hadrian cared a great deal ... he severely punished those who besmirched her name.

Flamen Antonius Subia goes so far as to say there was genuine love between Hadrian and Sabina, and that Hadrian's respect for his wife was the prime reason why he was not more upfront about his relationship with Antinous.

Antonius says: "Hadrian was very, very discreet about his relationship with Antinous .... That's why there is no direct  evidence that the Religion of Antinous was a Gay or Homosexual religion, and there is no irrefutable evidence that Hadrian and Antinous even had a sexual relationship at all.

"Hadrian maintained discretion, for Sabina's sake...why would Hadrian want to shame Sabina? What had she done or said?" Antonius asks. "Hadrian wanted to hold his love for Antinous up to the celestial sphere, but he would never push Sabina down into the mud...Hadrian had class."

Rituals and meditations tonight are best suited for questions about your mother or your "inner mother" and also about finding flexible solutions to problems. The serpentine qualities of the "Snake Goddess Moon" offer insights into how to slither around or through seemingly impervious barriers in life.

LOVELY LARIMAR FOR THE VENUS MOON By Our Crystal Meditation Advisor Martin Campbell

OUR venerable astrological adviser Hernestus has informed me that this moon phase is the Libra First Quarter Moon when the Roman Emperors honoured Venus Genetrix (Venus Universal Mother). 

As such, we celebrate it as the "Venus Moon" of Antinous. This moon helps you to be nurtured or be nurturing to yourself. In doing so, blockages can be removed. 

With all of this in mind I suggest that you meditate with the following crystals during this moon phase:

Blue Lace Agate - These stunning, pale blue, stones (above right) are the best for nurturing and supportive yourself. They also help you to dissolve old patterns you may have of self repression. In particular these stones help men to embrace their more feminine aspects.

Larimar (AKA Dolphin Stone) - These beautiful, pale turquoise coloured stones (top photo) have only recently been found and mined in the Caribbean. They help to remove self-imposed blockages.

Red Calcite - Red Calcite - These crystals help remove blockages emotionally and shift negative energies.

Love and Light,

MARTIN

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

WE REMEMBER HEROSTRATUS THE ULTIMATE NOTORIETY SEEKER

ON 21 July we remember Herostratus, whose name is synonymous with all persons who commit heinous crimes for the sole purpose of making their names notorious ... the eternally aggrieved ego ... the call for damnatio memoriae ... destroyer of beauty, youth and success perceived as insults to the entitled outsider.

Herostratus was a 4th Century BC Greek arsonist who sought notoriety by destroying one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, prompting a law forbidding anyone to mention his name.

His name has become a metonym for someone who commits a criminal act in order to become famous.

On 21 July 356 BC, seeking notoriety, he burned down the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus in Asia Minor (now Turkey).

Antinous and Hadrian visited TEMPLE OF ARTEMIS in June of 129 AD.

The temple honoured a local goddess, called Artemis by the Greeks, their version of Diana goddess of the hunt, the wild, and childbirth. 

The temple was constructed of marble and was built by King Croesus of Lydia to replace an older site destroyed during a flood. Measuring 130 meters long (425 feet) and supported by columns 18 meters high (60 feet), it was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

Far from attempting to evade responsibility for his act of arson, Herostratus proudly claimed credit in an attempt to immortalise his name. 

To dissuade those of a similar mind, the Ephesian authorities not only executed him, but attempted to condemn him to a legacy of obscurity by forbidding mention of his name under penalty of death. However, this did not stop Herostratus from achieving his goal because the ancient historian Theopompus recorded the event and its perpetrator in his Hellenics.

Herostratus' name lived on in classical literature and has passed into modern languages as a term for someone who commits a criminal act in order to bask in the resultant notoriety.