The Works of the Emperor Julian, Vol. 1 (Loeb)

INTRODUCTION

It was perhaps easier to restore the temples than the half-forgotten ritual of the gods, but Julian enlisted the aid of a learned pagan, the Roman antiquarian and senator Vettius Agorius Praetextatus, whom he appointed Proconsul of Achaia in 362. For the rites appropriate to the oriental cults, he consulted Maximus of Ephesus, who initiated him into the Mysteries of Mithras.

Constantius, fully occupied with the persecution of non-Arian Christians, had not persecuted pagan intellectuals such as Libanius and the philosopher Themistius, and even pagan officials such as Sallust had been promoted during his reign. However, Julian gave instructions that pagans should be preferred to Christians for public offices (Letter 37), and as the progress of “Hellenism” proved slower than he had hoped, he grew more intolerant. For evidence of definite persecution of Christians during his brief reign, we depend on Gregory Nazianzen, Socrates, Sozomen, and other Church historians. But certain administrative measures referred to in the letters were aimed at the Christians. As part of Julian’s general policy of exacting service in their local senates from all well-to-do citizens, he deprived Christian clergy of their immunity from such service;See Letter 39, To the Byzacians. Libanius, Oration 18. 148, praises this reform. For Julian’s increase of the Senate at Antioch, compare Misopogon 367 D and Codex Theodosianus 12. 1. 50-56. funerals were no longer allowed to...