"Tivoli" Tivoli by alza

Hadrian was born in Italica, Hispania (near Seville.) His ancestors had come from
ancient Adria, a city of Picenum, situated about 10 km from the Adriatic Sea.
Adria then was close to Teate (now Chieti in Abruzzo, and likely of Etruscan origin.)

During his reign, he is known to have maintained world peace and restored the Empire's economy. He is also remembered for his passion for Antinous, a beautiful young man from Bythinia, a Roman province in Asia Minor. When Antinous died by drowning in the Nile, Hadrian ordered his deification.

The Emperor died of heart failure at 62. Surprisingly, he died in his villa at Baiae, an elite place for the rich near Pozzuoli... and not at his beloved Villa Adriana in Tibur (now Tivoli, near Rome.)

Here is a poem written by Hadrian a few hours before his death.

Animula, vagula, blandula
Hospes comesque corporis
Quae nunc abibis in loca
Pallidula, rigida, nudula,
Nec, ut soles, dabis iocos...

P. Aelius Hadrianus Imp.

Roving amiable little soul,
Body's companion and guest,
Now descending for parts
Colorless, unbending, and bare
Your usual distractions no more shall be there...

In French, "hospes comesque" is better said as "host and friend." I love
Animula, vagula, blandula...

Photo is one of hundreds of Antinous statues. I took it at the Vatican Museum with my mobile phone.