"...Wishing to test to the full
The sureness of aim
Of his beauteous Antinous,
Son of the Argus-slayer."

A papyrus was found in Oxyrhynchus, Egypt, that had been rolled up and used as a bottle stopper. When unraveled, it was discovered to have been the a portion of the lost epic poem by Pancrates a poet from Hadrian's court, who had written about the last known event in the life of Antinous, the Lion Hunt in Libya.

While the court was in Alexandria, word reached them that a man-eating lion was terrorizing the countryside of Libya. So Hadrian, always a lover of the hunt, and in need of a diversion, set out to kill track down the beast. It proved to have been almost more than the blossoming young Antinous could handle, and he was nearly killed, however, Hadrian came to his rescue in what was to be the last display of vigor for the aging Emperor. Athenaeus, wrote of the event, adding that from the blood of the beast, red lotus flowers sprouted, a sure sign that Antinous had the touch of a God.

The image to the left is a fragment of textile found at Antinopolis, depicting the final known event in the short life of Antinous Within a month after the lion hunt, Antinous was dead, and his apotheosis and graceful religion had begun.

And swifter than the horse of Adrastus
Which once saved the king as he fled…in battle-throng.
Such was the steed whereon Antinous sat in wait for the deadly lion,
Holding in his left hand the bridle-rein
And in his right a spear shod with adamant.
First Hadrian his brass fitted spear wounded the beast
But slew him not, for of purpose he missed the mark,
Wishing to test to the full the sureness of aim
Of his beauteous Antinous, son of the Argus-slayer.
Stricken, the beast was yet more aroused,
And tore up in his wrath the rough ground with his paws,
And dust rising in a cloud dimmed the light of the sun.
He raged even as the wave of the surging sea
When Zephyrus is stirred forth after the wind of Strumon.
Straight he rushed upon them both,
Scourging with his tail, his haunches and sides
While his eyes, beneath his brows, flashed dreadful fire;
And from his ravening jaws the foam showered to the earth
As his teeth gnashed within.
On his mighty head and shaggy neck the hair stood bristling.
On his limbs it was bushy as trees,
And on his back…it was like whetted spear points.
In such wise he came against the glorious god, upon Antinous
Like Typhoeus of old against Zeus, slayer of giants…