Hadrian’s Wall has been hailed a symbol of LGBTQ+ history.
English Heritage listed the archaeological landmark as one of seven important historical structures that link to queer history across the UK.
The charity shared the list via a newsletter to members, as seen by The Telegraph, that celebrated the end of LGBT+ history month.
In the email, English Heritage explained some of the history around Roman emperor Hadrian – who built the wall – and who was documented as having several male lovers throughout his life.
The charity said: “During LGBT+ history month, English Heritage shared stories – both on our website and in our regular members’ e-newsletter – about links to the LGBTQ+ history of some of the sites and collections in our care.
“We tell these stories because to understand a historic site, you also have to understand the people associated with it, who either lived or stayed there or in this case built it.
“One of the stories we shared this month was of the Roman emperor Hadrian and his male lover Antinous.
“It was common for Roman men, including many emperors, to have sexual relationships with other men alongside their marriage.
Read about the lives of some of England’s LGBTQ+ people and their important place as part of the history of English Heritage sites. ???? #LGBTplusHM ⬇️https://t.co/aWsfvk8ROv
— English Heritage (@EnglishHeritage) February 1, 2024
“While they would be classified by modern society as ‘bisexual’, the Romans did not define sexuality in such terms.
“They were defined through their sexual acts rather than their choice of sexual partners.”
While Hadrian was married to Sabina Augusta, Roman emperor Trajan’s great-niece, he was known for his relationship with Antinous – a young Bithynian man.
When Antinous drowned – or was possibly murdered – at just 20-years-old, Hadrian ‘extravagantly’ commemorated the death of his lover, English Heritage said.
He erected statues across the empire and also had Antinous controversially worshipped as a god.
His extreme response was ridiculed but the charity said the cult of Antinous proved popular. Images of him were commonly reproduced during the early modern period and displayed in private homes – often as a subtle reference to homosexuality.
But the actual building of Hadrian’s Wall was motivated by military and political factors rather than personal reasons.
Hadrian’s approach was to consolidate existing borders rather than expand further as his predecessor had done, and the wall was a statement of this policy that aimed to secure the northern most frontier of the Empire.
English Heritage added: “In any study of history, knowledge of the personal as well as the political helps us to better understand the figures from the past. To understand Hadrian’s Wall, you have to understand the Roman emperor who built it – his career, his life, and the times he lived in.”
Hadrian’s Wall is over 70 miles long and runs through part of Cumbria. It is over 1,900 years old.
It was made up of a complex system of communications and defences – including forts such as Birdoswald, near Brampton, which are able to be visited today.
