The new cultus of Antinous: Hadrian's deified lover and contemporary Queer Paganism

The contemporary Pagan movement, or Neo-Paganism, constitutes a growing sector of modern Western religiosity. While much scholarly attention has focused on larger Pagan religions like Wicca and Goddess Spirituality, this has come at the expense of studies into many of their smaller counterparts. Amo...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Nova religio
Main Author: White, Ethan Doyle (Author)
Format: Electronic/Print Article
Language:English
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Published: University of Californiarnia Press [2016]
In: Nova religio
Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains:B Neopaganism / Antinous 110-130 / Cult
RelBib Classification:AZ New religious movements
BE Greco-Roman religions
Online Access: Volltext (doi)
Description
Summary:The contemporary Pagan movement, or Neo-Paganism, constitutes a growing sector of modern Western religiosity. While much scholarly attention has focused on larger Pagan religions like Wicca and Goddess Spirituality, this has come at the expense of studies into many of their smaller counterparts. Among those neglected faiths has been the contemporary cultus of Antinous, a small yet growing number of practitioners who venerate the deified lover of the Roman Emperor Hadrian (76–138 ce). Given the same-sex nature of the couple’s relationship, Antinous has come to be seen by many practitioners as “the Gay God” and his cultus has primarily attracted gay men. This article represents the first academic study of this new religious movement, outlining its historical development, examining the beliefs and practices of its adherents, and arguing that it reflects both continuity with earlier forms of Queer Paganism as well as novel developments.
ISSN:1092-6690
Contains:Enthalten in: Nova religio
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1525/novo.2016.20.1.32