The Imperial Fleet arrived in the ancient city of Hermopolis just in time for the celebration of the death and resurrection of Osiris. These ceremonies coincided with the end of the flooding of the Nile that was so important to the fertility of the river valley. For two years the Nile had failed to flood properly, and the threat of starvation was looming. The entire Empire was in danger because Egypt provided food for the great cities everywhere. If the Nile failed to flood again, world-wide famine would result, which would then lead to death, disease and to civil unrest.

The atmosphere of the festival of Osiris was unusually serious. The ancient story told how the evil god Set and his seventy-two accomplices had murdered Osiris by drowning him in the river, and then they dismembered him, scattering his limbs up and down the valley. His sacrifice caused the annual floods that brought life to the rainless valley. Osiris arose from the dead, but needed the constant supplication of his devoted followers to strengthen his return. The priests first mourned his death, then prayed for his return, and at the moment of his resurrection, celebrated with dancing, singing, and feasting. It is said that in ancient times, young boys, chosen for their exceptional beauty were thrown into the Nile to drown, just as Osiris had drowned, as a sacrifice to the God of the Nile for the benefit of the living. Those who drowned in the Nile were considered to have become gods, especially if the water responded the following year with a deep inundation.

Something occured at Hermopolis, Antinous underwent a transformation the likes of which we can only wonder, because from this point onward, the history of Antinous takes on mythical porportions.

After the festival of Osiris, the fleet continued up the river until it reached a place called Hir-wer, where a small, ancient Temple of Rameses II stood. Here on October 28th in the year 130 AD, Antinous fell into the Nile. There is no way to know if he was pushed, if he committed suicide, if he gave himself as a human sacrifice, or if he slipped and drowned by accident. No explanation was given, perhaps even then it was a mystery. Hadrian wept like a woman, we are told, in front of the entire court. This shameless display of emotion became a scandal that for so many centuries discredited the achievements of Hadrian. It made plain that their relationship had transcended what was usual and what tradition held to be manly and appropriate for an Emperor of the warrior Rome nation.

The High Priests of Osiris and those of Hermopolis, came privately to Hadrian that Night and revealed what they believed had taken place. Antinous had joined the river god, and had become the river god. They showed Hadrian that the local people had already taken up the lamentation and exhaltation of Antinous, proclaiming that he had become a God, after their custom. Hadrian took these sentiments to heart. The following day he consulted with his advisors and with the Roman pontiffs of the court, and revealed his astonishing plan.

On October 30th of the year 130 AD, Hadrian founded the Holy City of Antinoopolis on the bank of the river where Antinous had drowned, tracing out the major streets with his own rod in the sand. He then proceeded to do the unthinkable, as Pontifex Maximus, High Priest of the Roman Religion, he declared that Antinous was a God, that he had conquered death, and risen up to dwell among the never-ending stars. Proclamations were sent out to ever corner of the world, inaugurating the religion of the New God Antinous.

The Temple of Antinous