The Hadrian Enigma - A Forbidden History (33 page)

Your forthcoming role, Antinous, as
eromenos
to Hadrian means our Caesar can be repeatedly made aware of the necessity for defensive protections at the Eastern frontier. He has the influence and power to persuade his senators, but he himself needs to be regularly persuaded too. This, Antinous, is the role your countrymen now expect of you. You are our frontline defense.

Secondly, the East needs at least two additional Legions to reinforce the existing two Legions based in Cappadocia to protect our borders. This initiative will be a costly investment in coin and manpower at a time when Roman armies no longer siphon wealth from newly conquered enemies to justify its conquests.

For five hundred years Rome has been annexing the land, wealth, and manpower of its neighbors piece-by-piece, but this expansion program is no longer tenable. The cost of the defense and supply-lines exceeds the value of the booty seized. It teaches us how even brute power has its limits.

But where do you, Antinous, fit into these matters, you ask? To be brief, my boy, you are shortly to become Caesar’s personal connection to Roman Asia. Your proximity to him will repeatedly remind him of the importance of the culture he already greatly admires. This is your destiny, Antinous, and even yours too Lysias.’

Arrian paused to toss dippers of cooling water across his frame. He continued.

‘
Your selection, young man, followed wide enquiries among the landed classes to identify a freeborn candidate of a suitable quality, status, and ability for Caesar’s interest.

For example you already know of Glaucon the Syri? He was the silver-voiced fellow who sang love songs at the celebration of your hunting kill at Nicomedia last October. Glaucon only lasted a month in Caesar’s company despite his porcelain beauty and our every discreet encouragement to appeal to Caesar’s tastes. But he was soon returned to his Damascus family crest-fallen and bitter, but also far wealthier than even his wildest dreams could imagine. Gold has its appeal for some, too. Not all contenders prize honor.’

Arrian paused to measure his effect upon his companions. Antinous and Lysias looked to each other questioningly. Arrian seemed satisfied and continued.

‘
Our conversation here, my friends, is to be confidential between us. It is not seditious or irregular, but it is sensitive and must be respected,’ he said softly. ‘It was our community’s desire to provide great Caesar with an
eromenos
of a superior standard suited to his status. After scouring all the Aegean for a suitably mature
meirakion
and then discreetly wheeling these prospects into Caesar’s company, only a single candidate of our collection met with his favor.

Caesar is a fickle aesthete, yet one with an educated eye and very perceptive insight. He knows good horseflesh when he sees it, but he also knows a good heart.

The choice proved to be you, Antinous, after he saw you and Lysias wrestling fiercely at the youth’s games of Claudiopolis five months ago, plus subsequent events. Despite a dozen other eligible fellows on display naked in the dust that day, and despite one or two others being feathered later into the boar hunt at Nicomedia, it was you Antinous who eventually became the chosen one,’ Arrian divulged with a faint smile. ‘The rest you know.’

Antinous at last spoke. He had been digesting this information carefully.

‘
You say, my lord, that this is my life’s destiny. If so, what am I supposed to do about it? I am here in Athens for my final education and continued training in weapons. Letters have passed between my father and various agents of the Imperial Household, yet I have no idea how to go about the project you have outlined?’ he said. ‘How am I to achieve such a unique goal?’

‘
Arrangements are already taking place which will take care of this issue,’ Arrian replied enigmatically.

‘
But this does not answer my query, my lord,” Antinous interjected. “Under what terms am I to be received by great Caesar? What steps should I take? I’m at a loss to know how to respond or what to do. I am no coquette or teasing courtesan with practiced wiles.’

‘
Do not worry, lad. As I said, certain matters are being prepared in readiness. Tomorrow you and Lysias should keep your eyes open and stay within Caesar’s sight throughout the day’s events. Especially, you should watch for anything odd or suspicious which appears in your field of vision,’ the noble offered with puzzling vagueness, ‘and respond appropriately. There have been rumors circulating, so be prepared for any surprise.’

Antinous and Lysias slopped further dippers of water over their heads. Arrian continued.

‘
But you should also realize, Antinous, how our Caesar currently has another young fellow gracing his company at Athens. To some degree you have competition.’

Both of the boys sat up briskly amid the lethargic heat, their energy restored.

‘
Competition? What do you mean by ‘competition’, sir?’ Antinous asked with a hint of alarm. Arrian considered his words carefully.

‘
Well, my boy, for the past few weeks Caesar has been enjoying the company of his friend at Rome of recent years named Senator Lucius Ceionius Commodus. This senator is residing with Caesar at Athens not very far from your own villa.’

‘
Oh,’ said Antinous, as he wondered at the import of this. ‘Who is this man Commodus? Is he a Roman noble too?’

‘
Ah yes, he most certainly is. Commodus is descended from an ancient Etruscan family of the senatorial class. He is definitely a 
patrician
. They are extremely wealthy and they are of the best blood. As a result Commodus has been raised with not just a silver spoon in his mouth but perhaps an entire golden service. He has very good political prospects. Yet from what I have seen of him he is quite spoiled and temperamental and given to extravagance. However I must admit he is also very good looking.’

‘
Was he an
eromenos
to Hadrian? I am told on good authority Caesar had not taken an
eromenos
previously.’

‘
No, Antinous. Hadrian did not display his friend as a formal partner. Commodus has simply hovered discreetly in the background or been out of sight altogether.

Antinous sat in stony silence for a few moments to digest this information. I suspect he began to wonder if Caesar was really a man of his word or not.

‘
Sir, is there not a law forbidding Romans to accost freeborn maidens or youths?’

‘
Yes, Antinous,’ Arrian conceded, ‘the ancient law known as the
lex Scantinia
with its objection to the offence of
stuprum.
It
still remains respected among older Romans. However there have been no prosecutions for it for at least a hundred years. What people do between themselves in private, or what a Caesar may deign to venture in his majesty as
Princeps
, is another matter entirely.

People say Commodus might be adopted by Hadrian into his
gens
as his lawful son and prospective successor, just as Julius Caesar did with Gaius Octavius long ago. Octavius eventually assumed the title of Caesar Augustus. Nerva did likewise with Trajan. Yet though Commodus possesses the necessary bloodlines to be eligible, he doesn’t possess the military experience or political influence, I’d say. The Legions barely know or respect him. They will count.

Yet we from the East suspect this prospect is being manipulated by forces at Rome who wish the succession to be securely finalized now Hadrian has entered mid-life and its inevitable health risks. An unresolved succession is a proven recipe for civil war when an emperor dies. A bloodbath can result, with totally unpredictable outcomes.

Also, the succession of Commodus would once again shift priorities and resources away from us in the east into the western sphere. We resist this strongly while the barbarians are at the door.’

‘
What then is your advice in this matter? I am not experienced in the stratagems of lovers, seducers, or courtesans. I am a plain speaking fellow from the provinces. What is your advice, sir?’ Antinous asked somewhat plaintively.

‘
Love? Lovers!? What has love to do with it? Hadrian only wants to enjoy your pleasant company,” Arrian retorted sharply. “Laughter and lust are your functions, my boy, perhaps coupled with a longing for the son he has never bred. Your role is to satisfy the call of Eros. You take his mind off the issues of state. So make the best of it, my boy, for all our sakes.’

Antinous grew impatient with this overly pragmatic philosophy.

‘
You must think very little of me, sir, if you think I am but a kept boy?” Antinous challenged daringly. “I am not for sale, my lord. I am protective of my honor, my
arete
.’

‘
Yes, yes, yes, lad, I acknowledge your quality,” Arrian responded, realizing he had ruffled the lad’s sensitivities. “But you are now entering a realm where everything and everyone are purchasable. Power is a commodity and it is for sale, usually at a high price in coin or blood.’

‘
But I possess few needs, my lord. I do not seek power or influence. I do not seek great wealth. So is there anything specific you can recommend to me?” Antinous persisted. “I’m not sufficiently experienced in courtly ways to determine a path forward.”

Arrian paused to reflect for a moment. Then he looked fixedly at Antinous with a glinting knowingness in his eye. He smiled.

‘
Yes, there is one important thing. Perhaps it’s how you have gotten this far so swiftly. Great Caesar is certainly smitten by your charms, young man. I have witnessed your effect upon his moods. Your physical grace has impacted upon his more earthy appetites, true, as has your sassiness, your daring, and your cool persona. You indeed possess the upper hand in this courtly dance, Antinous. But one thing is worth accenting to you here.

I wish to reveal to you an important matter. Listen carefully because I will tell it to you only once.

You must show your most winning features to him. Yes, display your youth; display your beauty; display your fine young muscles; display your smooth flesh; display your intelligence and most appealing attributes. Display too your impudence, your drive, and daring. But also, ---‘

Arrian’s eyes started to drift slowly across Antinous’s sweatily glistening frame, down its sculpted surfaces, and then low in the direction of his reproductive organs. Arrian was not being provocative, prurient, or suggestive; he was simply scanning the facts of Antinous’s physicality. Yet his eyes lingered politely over the young man’s adequately proportioned genitalia which now lay wetly shriveled in the
sodatarium
heat. His vision came to rest in a manner which seemed to silently, meaningfully, signal a message.

‘
--- be audacious, Antinous. Do the unexpected,’ he concluded smoothly.

After a few moments Antinous and Lysias both perceived what this unspoken message may have been at precisely the same time,” Geta added. “They turned to each other in sudden recognition but also in embarrassment. It was now evident why Arrian had chosen the nudity of a hot room at the Baths for his dissertation and its special clue to Caesar’s tastes. He wished to make a particular point without it being too boldly articulated. Arrian continued.

‘
You possess certain attributes which may appeal to Hadrian, young man. Yes, display a possibility to him Commodus has never offered in the first place,’ Arrian alluded obliquely. ‘Commodus is renowned for his sexual appetite to the point of being considered an unrestrained
cinaedus
obsessed with sensuality. But I don’t think his repertoire with his own gender is reputed to be especially
dominant
, if you catch my meaning? Not at all, in fact. So, Antinous, I suppose it was no accident Great Caesar personally checked your physical attributes at Nicomedia last year.’

Antinous blushed fully crimson despite his existing rosy hue of a hot-room flush. The cat was now out of the bag about who was witness to the event in the amphitheatre at Nicomedia. Lysias too now realized who the other observer had been shifting through the shadows. It had been Arrian.

‘
Among other things show him a possibility which may have agreed with him when he first observed your qualities, my boy. And do it shamelessly,’ Arrian persisted, nodding casually in the direction of Antinous’s crutch. ‘Others have failed in this role perhaps because Hadrian is Caesar, which can be intimidating, while custom tends to object to the senior partner participating in this way. But custom is blind.

Do you get my drift, lad? But also be flexible, be versatile, be willing to shift according to his changing moods, be open to all possibilities. And yes, be willing to submit too. This is the Bithynian way, my friend.’

‘
I think I do get your drift,’ Antinous murmured distractedly.

‘
Don’t forget Antinous, to be Caesar’s
Companion
is to be at the centre of the universe. It is to participate in works of great import. You enter history, young man. You become part of history. It’s your life’s destiny made concrete,’ Arrian concluded. ‘You must make of my advice what you will, and act according to your
arête
, your virtue.
Praise be to Caesar
!’

‘
To Caesar!
’ the boys echoed in unison. Both youngsters were thoughtful for some moments at this newest revelation. Then it was time for a cold plunge bath after stewing so long in the steamy heat.

Arrian led the trio from the private chamber to the vaulted public pools of the Baths. The marbled caverns echoed with two hundred bantering voices amid the splashy hubbub.