Discovered in Antinoöpolis, a Roman city on the Nile, the “Tondo of the Two Brothers” was painted in the second century AD.
Some studies now believe it could, in fact, depict two male lovers. Next to the man on the right is a figure of Hermanubis-a fusion of Hermes and Anubis-and beside the man on the left is Osir-Antinoüs, a combination of Osiris and the deified Antinoüs, Emperor Hadrian’s young lover, for whom the city is named.
PH๏τOGRAPH OF S. VANNINI/CORBIS/GETTY IMAGES
The “Tondo of the two brothers”, discovered in Antinoupolis, a Roman city established on the Nile, was painted in the 2nd century AD. Above the shoulder of the man located on the right is represented the deity Hermanubis, fusion of Hermes and Anubis, while the author of the work painted Osir-Antinous, fusion of Osiris and the deified Antinous. The latter was the young lover of Emperor Hadrian, who named the city in his honor.
