Antinoan Connections: Goddesses and Antinous–Faustina the Younger

Unlike her mother, Faustina the Elder, Annia Galeria Faustina Minor’s life was not treated kindly by history. However, she was deified by her husband, the emperor Marcus Aurelius, and is thus counted amongst the deified Antonines that are honored in the Ekklesía Antínoou.

Faustina the Younger was the only one of the four children of Faustina the Elder and Antoninus Pius to have survived to adulthood. She was born on February 16 sometime between 125 and 130, so it is possible that as a very small child she may have known and seen Antinous. She was initially betrothed to Lucius Verus, the young son of Aelius Caesar; however, when Aelius Caesar died and Faustina’s father was adopted as the heir of Hadrian, Antoninus Pius dissolved their betrothal, and instead had her betrothed to the future emperor Marcus Aurelius, who gave her the title of Augusta upon his accession in 161. Their marriage was a happy one, despite the historical sources saying that she had adulterous affairs with sailors, gladiators, and other men of rank, that she arranged for people to be poisoned, and that she instigated the revolt of Avidius Cassius against her husband; no matter what later history happened to say, Marcus Aurelius himself was very devoted to his wife, and defended her against all detractors. The couple had thirteen children, including two sets of twins: a brother and sister, the sister of whom was Lucilla, the eventual wife of Aurelius’ co-emperor Lucius Verus; and two twin brothers, of whom one was the future emperor Commodus. We shall deal with Lucilla tomorrow.

She made herself at home with Marcus Aurelius on a variety of military campaigns, and was given the title Mater Castrorum, “Mother of the Camp,” by the soldiers who enjoyed her presence and favor. In c. 175, in Cappadocia, she died during the winter while Aurelius was on campaign during some sort of accident. She was deified immediately, interred in Hadrian’s Mausoleum, and her statue was added to the Temple of Venus. The city where she died was renamed Faustinopolis and Marcus Aurelius started a charitable school for orphaned girls in Rome in her name. The Baths in Miletus were also named after her.

Ave Diva Faustina Augusta, Mater Castrorum! Ave Ave Antinoe!