Emperor and Magician: The Religious Views and Magical Practices of Julian the Apostate Restricted; Files Only
Greene, Carson (Spring 2022)
Published
Abstract
Reigning from 361 to 363 CE, Flavius Claudius Julianus has best been remembered as ‘Julian the Apostate’ for being the Roman Empire’s last pagan emperor. The primary aim of this thesis is to bring coherence to Julian’s religious views and practice of ancient magic, which ancient philosophers called theurgy. Ultimately, while many of his theological beliefs were esoteric and rather unique when compared to the other traditional pagan cults of the empire, Julian’s writings demonstrate that the religion and philosophy he espoused were actually part of the continuum of late antique Neoplatonic philosophy that was widespread across the eastern half of the Mediterranean. Additional focus is also given to the influence of early Christianity on Julian’s attempted pagan revival and how the emperor’s religious policies affected different religious groups in the empire. Finally, Julian’s legacy in Renaissance Italy is examined alongside the country’s resurgent interest in Neoplatonism and Hermeticism during the fifteenth century.
Table of Contents
Introduction………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………1
Helios Rising, The Education of Julian and the Emperor’s Court at Constantinople and Antioch……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..9
The Heritage of an Imperial Paideia……………………………………………………………………………….9
Julian’s Court at Constantinople and Antioch…………………………………………......................14
Between the Divine and Mortal Realms: Julian’s Theocratic Monarchy……………………….17
Anti-Christian Rhetoric and Neoplatonic Thought in Against the Galileans…………………………….22
Composition and Purpose of Against the Galileans…………………………………………………….22
The Tradition of Anti-Christian Polemics Before the Time of Julian…………………............24
Julian’s Critique of Genesis and Interpretation of Plato’s Timaeus……………………………..29
Julian’s New Henotheism: Asclepios Against Jesus……………………………….......................33
Julian Against Jesus and the New Testament……………………………………………………………..36
Julian’s Analysis of Abraham and the Impact of Iamblichan Theurgy on his Polemic….38
Julian’s School Edict and Answer to Christian Martyrdom………………………………………….44
Against the Galileans as a Work of Neoplatonic Literature………………………..................48
Julian the Theurgist……………………………………………………………………………....................................50
Defining Magic………………………………………………………………………………………………………….50
Theurgy Between Christianity and Paganism……………………………………..........................52
Julian’s Initiations into Theurgy and the Cult of Mithras……………………………………………54
King Helios and Julian’s Cosmology…………………………………………………………………………..58
Hymn to the Mother of the Gods and Julian’s Role in the Roman State Religion………62
The Sacrificial Rites of Julian and Maximus………………………………………………………………64
Bridging Magic and Religion…………………………………………………………………………………….70
Helios Falling, The Death and Legacy of Julian………………………………………...............................72
The Walls of Ctesiphon……………………………………………………………………………………………72
Magic and Madness: The Reign of Valentinian and Valens……………………………………..75
Julian And Hermes Trismegistus’ Legacy in Renaissance Italy………………………………….80
The Tragic Hero of a Dying Religion…………………………………………………………………………86
Conclusion………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….88
Bibliography……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….89
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