Julian Augustus : Platonism, myth, and the refounding of Rome /

This resource argues that Julian's self-construction, in his writings, embraces the identities of a statesman and soldier more than of a philosopher, of a Roman more than a Greek, and of a mere human rather than a semi-divine being.

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Swist, Jeremy (Author)
Format: eBook
Language:English
Published: New York, NY : Oxford University Press, [2025]
Series:Oxford studies in late antiquity.
Subjects:
Online Access:Connect to the full text of this electronic book
Table of Contents:
  • Julian Augustus : Platonism, Myth, and the Refounding of Rome
  • Copyright
  • Contents
  • Preface and Acknowledgments
  • Note on Primary Texts, Translations, and Abbreviations
  • Introduction: Laying the Foundations
  • Julian's Life, Writings, and Intellectual Influences
  • Previewing the Argument
  • 1: The Best Possible Monarch
  • Philosophers and Kings: The Letter to Themistius
  • Programming Imperial Identity in Julian's Caesarian Works
  • Between Philosopher and Ruler: The "Very Good Sallust" as Counselor-Collaborator
  • 2: Allegory, Theurgy, and Demiurgy
  • A Divine Right to Serve: The Hymn to King Helios
  • Son of the Sun? The Oration To the Cynic Heraclius
  • The Model of the "Model Myth": The Hymn to the Mother of the Gods
  • Theurgy, Demiurgy, and Refounding
  • 3: Rome and Romanitas
  • Princeps Romanus Sum
  • True Rome and New Rome
  • The Sign of the Wolf: Julian's Solar Romulus
  • The Most Philosophical King: Numa's Foundation of Solar Religion
  • 4: A Symposium of the Caesars
  • Romulus the Symposiarch
  • A Providential Roman History
  • Octavian Augustus and Julian Augustus
  • 5: Praises of Foundation, Foundations of Praise
  • Refounding the Augustan Principate: Mamertinus's Consular Speech of Thanks
  • The Founding of Julianople: Himerius's Oration to the City and Emperor
  • The Return of Sunlight: Libanius and the Living Emperor
  • Liberator of the Roman World, Restorer of the Temples: Founding an Epigraphic Record
  • 6: Après Julien, le déluge
  • From Refoundation to De-foundation: Libanius after the Emperor's Death
  • From Romanization to De-Romanization: Ammianus on Julian's Wasted Potential
  • Refounding a Legacy: Antiquity to Today
  • Conclusion: Dechristianizing the Dechristianizer.