The herald. (Big Stone City, Dak. [S.D.]) 1883-1890, 1889-04-05
AntinOus.


In Rome one expects to see things
Roman So we are not surprised to lind
that the Capitol, the Vatican, the La
teran, the semi-public collections all
have an Antinous to show either in
statue, bust. or bas-relef SO, too,
since all Italy once was Roman, we
may expect to find elsewhere than at
Rome his delicate beauty represented
in Florence, Venice, Naples, wher-
ever. indeed. the gems of ancient art
have been collected.
There is no mistakiug the type. TO
know it once is to recognize it always.
whether appearing as Bacchus, with
vine leaves and thyrus; rs Mercury,
messenger Of the gods; as Hercules; as
Nertumnus; as Harpocrates the god Of
silence, AS an Egyptian divinity; or
yet again as himself, with only his own
attributes Of peerless youth and beauty.
In every character there is the same
exquisitely nodded form, rounded
rather than sinewy; the same great
breadth OF shoulder, and columnar
throat supporting the lovely, dropping,
tlower-like head.
In every character, too, the face
wears a singulareNpression of sadness,
which is rather to be felt than under
stood lie alone could explain it, and
the sad sweet curve of his lips will
never part to disclose the secret. 1t is
a sadness as mysterious as the mirth of
Da Ninci's Mona Lisa, on whom we
gaze with a sort Of fascination. Each
moment seems to promise that the
next she will tell us why she smiles;
vet the years pass by, and still the
promise is untulflled. With Antinous
it is different. We recognize the mys-
terry, but also recognize that "his soul,
like the Harpocrates he personated.
seems to hold one finger on closed lips
in token of eternal silence"
We know very little of his history
beyond the record transmitted in art
! That he was beautiful; that he was of
/ Greek descent, and born in Bithynia
some year between 100 and lilo, A. d.;
| that the Roman Emperor Hadrian met.
loved, and made him (probably) his
page, or, at least, gave him some post
/ from which he gradually rose into the
position of chief favorite aud friend
| this is about all Of which we can be
sure.
The Emperor was more than twice
his !. ga keen, Greok-cultured man.
of scholarly sympathies and impulsivc
action. He made mistakes--as who
does not2 often blameworthy,
tried often to atone for his errors: but,
somehow, failed to win much love.
At last he met this beautiful YOUTH
and. widely rs they were separated hy
worldly place and age, they soon grew
close to each others hearts. Haarain
had been great traveller. and now
planned another extended tour. He
would visit the more remote parts Of
his great empire, with the boy Antin-
Gus for a companion. The Young
would learn from the older man.
while the old relieved his youth through
sympathy with the younger.
SO, together, they travelled through
Greece and Asia Minor, Syria. Paes-
tine. aud Arabia; reached Egypt, be-
gan voyage up the Nile, came to
Bcsa, and there was the end, for
there Antinous was drowned! twas
an accident. some say; but there are
gloomicr conjectures in history; one,
that Hadrian had consulted an oracle.
and learned that his own life was in
danger unless another life should be
given in exchange. Whereat, say
some and hint others. he sacrificed his
fayorite. But probably this IS scan
dal without foundation. A more ra-
tional explanation is that the youth.
learning the peril which threatened
his patron, voluntarily devoted himself
to death, to avert that doom from the
other. Greater love hath no man
than to lay down life for friend.
Heathen and Christian alike realize
this; and Anlino,ls may have felt that
TO the world his own existence could
count for little. while Hadran was all.
important. Eleanor {. Letcis, III ST
Nicholas.