According to tradition, Emperor Publio Elio Traiano Adriano fell in love with the young Antinoo, a Greek boy. However, Antinoo died in the Nile under unclear circumnstances; Adriano decided to erect a monument in his honour called Obelisco di Antinoo or Obelisco Pinciano. This is not the only monument that the emperor dedicated to his beloved as there were many others all around the former areas of the empire. Unfortunately the other monuments were destroyed during the rise of Christianity; this one was saved due to the hieroglyphics carved on it.