What provoked this extreme behavior, however,
is not clear.22 It does not seem, as in the case
of Hadrian and Antinous, that Polydeukion was
the young lover of Herodes; at least, there is no
evidence to that effect in the ancient sources.
Rather, Herodes's deep affection for Polydeukion appears to have stemmed from their family
tie and from his admiration of the youth's fine
character and accomplishments, which so greatly
contrasted with those of his own son, Atticus.
Not only was Polydeukion one of Herodes's best
students, but apparently he had also begun to
follow in the footsteps of his mentor in the public
sphere. He directed public baths23 and, during
the archonship of Dionysius (147/148), was in
charge of public games. Polydeukion's subordinates in the latter project paid him tribute with
a monument erected posthumously in Kephissia.24 Nor did Polydeukion neglect pious duty.
As has already been mentioned, he often attended the rites of the temple of Nemesis at
Rhamnous; an inscription records the decree
offered by that city in Polydeukion's honor.25
Yet none of this, however admirable, seems
adequate provocation for the kind of extravagance in which Herodes indulged to commemorate the boy, nor does it seem sufficient
explanation of the fact that among the three favored students Polydeukion alone was named as
22. Graindor, Un milliardaire antique, p. 118, notes that Herodes also grieved excessively for his three children (Elpinike,
Athenais, and Regillus), his wife (Regilla), and the two
daughters of his freedman Alkimedon, whom he loved as his
own children.
23. Inscriptiones Graecae, volume 3, part 1, number 814. According to H. T. Westbrook, "A Herm Dedicated by Herodes Atticus," American Journal of Archaeology, volume 33, 1929,
p. 403, Polydeukion, if not actually in charge of the direction
of the baths, at least had "a benefactor's interest in them."
24. Westbrook, "A Herm Dedicated by Herodes Atticus."
p. 403, asserts that Polydeukion was in charge of the games
on the evidence of Inscriptions Graecae, volume 3, part 1, number 810. More recently, however, the Vibullius Polydeukes
mentioned in this inscription has been distinguished from
Vibullius Polydeukion. The former is said to have been
agonothete of memorial games for the latter. See Michael
Woloch, Roman Citizenship and the Athenian Elite, pp. 119-120,
nos. 4 and 5 (1).
25. Inscriptiones Graecae, volume 3, part 1, number 811.
a hero. The actual reasons may never be known,
but it is interesting to note that heroization of
Polydeukion occurred very close in time to the
beginning of Herodes's quarrels with the Quintilii, brothers who governed together in Attica
circa 148-150.26 His reputation suffered from
their criticism and that of others whom they
may have provoked.27 Herodes's disreputable
son, Atticus, was doubtless a further embarrassment to him. Thus, in elevating Polydeukion, an admirable youth of his family, to heroic
status, Herodes may have hoped to bolster the
flagging image of his noble line among the
Greeks.28 At the same time, his presumption in
doing so may have added fuel to the already
heated claims of his opposition. In any case, the
friends and relatives of Herodes seem to have
joined in his public acclaim of Polydeukion and,
by extension, of his family. Inscriptions record
two statues erected by Vibullia Alkia, the mother
of Herodes Atticus, a headless herm set up by
Lucius Octavius Restitutus, an alter dedicated
by Asiaticus Lamptreus, and a monument
erected by the Delphians.29
How far afield the acclamation of Polydeukion spread is another puzzling question. C. C.
Vermeule has suggested that a cult of Polydeukion, like that of Antinous, spread throughout
26. Graindor, Un milliardaire antique, p. 111; Bowersock, Greek
Sophists, pp. 99-100. See also note 10 above.
27. Graindor, Un milliardaire antique, p. 111.
28. The family of Herodes Atticus extended back to the late
Republican period. See Graindor, Un milliardaire antique,
chapter I, for his ancestry. We do not know whether Herodes's younger son, Regillus, was born before or after the
death of Polydeukion. We know only that he died very young,
at some time before the death of his mother, Regilla, who
died in 160. (See Graindor, "Textes relatifs," p. 367). If,
however, he had not yet been born during Polydeukion's
lifetime, it would be possible to conjecture that Herodes had
placed his hopes on Polydeukion as a worthier male heir
than his own son Atticus whom he eventually disinherited.
(Philostratus, Lives of the Sophists, Book 2, Chapter 1, 588;
Loeb edition pp. 164-165).
29. Inscriptiones Graecae, volume 3, part 1, numbers 815, 816
(statues); number 817 (herm); number 818 (altar). The Delphian monument is recorded by G. Dittenberger, Sylloge Inscriptionum Graecarum, 4th edition, volume 8, Hildesheim, 1960,
pp. 573-574, number 861.
