Was nero gay

One is a dupondius that was found at Burton upon Stather. Often described by gay friends of mine as the perfect coupling of a “bear” and a “twink”.

Hadrian spent a big part of his reign on a tour of the empire. Allowing himself to be used as the plaything of an oriental despot.

Years later, the Bithynia episode led to a bawdy ditty being sung by the legions as they marched along: Gallias Caesar subegit, Caesarem Nicomedes.

Some suggest that Antinous may have committed suicide, fearing the loss of his youthful allure, and sought a means of immortalizing himself.

Hadrian’s deep affection for Antinous was undeniable. Roman writers commented on his use of a female hair net by Elagabalus and removing hair from all over his body. He is often thought of as one of the ‘bad’ emperors, known for his extravagances and cruelty.

Hadrian the bearded Spaniard who rose to the top position in the Roman Empire. With almost absolute power, Augustus posed as the defender of ancient Roman morals. Coincidentally from Bithynia where Julius Caesar had so much fun! Womanly even – in one sneering comment.

Other LGBT Roman Emperors– including the boundary pushing Elagabalus

Other LGBT Roman Emperors include Nero’s immediate successor Galba; the Flavian dynasty emperors Titus and Domitian; the “good emperors” Nerva and Trajan; Commodus (as featured in the movie Gladiator); and the notorious Elagabalus.

The latter LGBT emperor – Elagabalus – is a corker!

So, what are the stories and can we confirm the facts two thousand years later.

This romantic liaison transcended conventional mentorship and displayed the traditional power dynamic in ancient Greek and Roman same-sex relationships.

The cult of Antinous

Tragically, Antinous’s life ended abruptly during a tour of Egypt in 130 AD, and the circumstances surrounding his death remain veiled in mystery.

But Augustus may have been over-compensating for the swirl of LGBT related rumours and accusations that dogged his youth.

Augustus was known as Octavian before becoming emperor. This was allegedly as a result of his resemblance to Nero’s late wife Poppaea, the one he kicked to death while she was pregnant. These accounts come from all the major historians of the time with Suetonius even claiming that Nero used to wear an animal skin and “assail with violence the private parts both of men and women, while they were bound to stakes”.

Emperor Hadrian and Antinous – an imperial LGBT romance!

The most famous LGBT relationship in Roman imperial history has to be that between the Emperor Hadrian and Antinous.

This worship departed from traditional Roman religious practices and foreshadowed his penchant for challenging established norms.

How Elagabalus challenged Roman gender roles

One of the most captivating aspects of Elagabalus was his apparent disregard for traditional gender roles. His rival for political power was the Roman alpha male, Mark Antony.

The jaded emperor also brought together young women and adult male prostitutes.

Although we can’t be sure about the inner workings of every Roman emperor’s bedroom, there are three famous examples of Emperors whose sexuality went beyond the societal norms of the day.

Emperor Trajan’s Love of Boys

Emperor Trajan’s personal life is shrouded in intriguing facets that reveal his homosexual inclinations.