adrian and Antinous figures from my back catalogue - M3 and D3 (the latter sporting the still lovely Russell texture). I really don't know why I built Egyptian surroundings in Poser, especially as they disappeared in post. The Roman adored his Greek 'favorite'. In October 130AD, Antinous was drowned in the Nile. It is still not known whether his death was the result of accident, suicide, murder, or religious sacrifice. The grief of the emperor knew no bounds. Cities were founded in Antinous's name, medals struck with his effigy, and statues erected to him in all parts of the empire. Following the example of Alexander (who sought divine honours for his beloved, Hephaistion), Hadrian had Antinous proclaimed a god. Temples were built for his worship in Bithynia, Arcadia, and Athens, festivals celebrated in his honour and oracles delivered in his name. The city of Antinopolis or Antinoe was founded on the site of Hir-wer where he died. One of Hadrian's attempts at extravagant remembrance failed, when the proposal to create a constellation of Antinous being lifted to heaven by an eagle (the constellation Aquila) failed to be adopted. Worship of the idealized Antinous was widespread, mainly outside the city of Rome. As a result, Antinous is one of the best-preserved faces from the ancient world, his was the only non-imperial head ever to appear on the coinage and his worship became a major target for the early Christian church His cult continues to this day. Worshipped by only one in his lifetime, Antinous was worshipped by millions after his death. And the connection to our own dear Nano? Well, on the pillow there, you'll see the latest treat offered to his darling by the sentimental Hadrian. A brass mechanism, allegedly based on a dream of Archimedes. The scant records that survive indicate that he was trying to make a representation of a figure he'd seen in a dream, whom he called 'the Angel Nanola'. In his notes he remarks that he singularly fails to attain the reality of the vision; "I have her semblance, but not her soul". This has strange echoes throughout human history. A figure called variously 'Nan', Nano', 'Nanola' and 'Nanobot' has been cited at key points of evolution in human consciousness. The version held by Hadrian is believed to have been a copy of Archimedes original and was fully articulated, but unable to move by itself, as Archimedes model was said to have done. In 2009, a ship sunk during the Battle of Actium was recovered, containing a replica which showed remarkable clockwork complexity under X-Ray, but was considered too fragile for complete forensic analysis. The Nano Enigma. A mystery that continues to cloud the brains of archeological scholars across the eons.