ON JULIAN’S THE BEARD-HATER

7

...was frequently said to be well-suited for demonstrating his talents. Therefore, so that no opportunity for a political revolution might arise from it, he departed from this first school in Nicomedia. Libanius the Rhetorician Libanius (314–392 AD) was one of the most influential Greek teachers of the 4th century; though a pagan, his students included both Julian and prominent Christian saints like John Chrysostom. was flourishing in that city at that time, having achieved great praise for his eloquence, but he was particularly devoted to pagan superstition. For this reason, Julian at first kept away from his school and only read his books at home, because he was wonderfully delighted by them.

But afterward, having been gradually corrupted by his familiarity with Libanius’s style, Julian not only began to frequent the school, but even dared to declaim against the Christians in the Greek manner—as if, for the sake of exercising his talent, he wished to make some incredible thesis appear probable through his speaking. This was Julian's second school: a school, I say, that was a mistress of error and impiety. For Paul rightly says, quoting the poet Menander:

Bad company corrupts good character.
original Greek: Φθείρουσιν ἤθη χρηστὰ ὁμιλίαι κακαί. original Latin: Corrumpunt mores bonos congressus mali. This is a famous maxim from the Greek playwright Menander, later quoted by the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:33.

Nevertheless, in this school, such were his exercises in eloquence. There he also learned philosophy. Philosophy at that time was not entirely Platonic or Aristotelian, but a mixture of both. Porphyry A Neoplatonist philosopher (c. 234–305 AD) known for his work Isagoge, an introduction to logic. a little before, and then Iamblichus A Syrian Neoplatonist (c. 245–325 AD) who integrated religious ritual and magic into philosophy. were considered the leaders of this system of education. Iamblichus's authority was the highest among all; therefore, Julian especially honored and loved this philosopher, and bestowed great honors and rewards upon him.

He held to this kind of philosophy: hence, in his letters, he calls himself a devotee of the doctrines of Plato and Aristotle original: "τῶν Πλάτωνος καὶ Ἀριστοτέλους ζηλωτὴν δογμάτων.". In this matter, he also made great use of the work of that eunuch teacher whom I mentioned before [Mardonius], just as Julian himself declares to the people of Antioch in The Beard-Hater original: "Misopogon.", when he shifts the blame for his own lifestyle onto him with a certain irony: "Often," he says, "you have heard these names, as I believe..."