Misopogon

by Julian

C'est à Antioche, ville-phare de l'Orient christianisé, qu'en février 363 un homme laisse exploser sa colère dans un discours, le Misopogon (l'" Ennemi de la barbe "), qui a traversé les siècles sans perdre de sa force. Quand tant d'autres ont disparu, ce document fut conservé par la grâce des dieux, peut-être, mais surtout du fait de l'étonnante personnalité de son auteur qui ne laissait personne indifférent, pas même ses pires détracteurs. L'homme n'est rien moins que l'empereur Julien, dit l'Apostat. Son discours, magnifiquement authentique car si peu conventionnel, éclaire le rendez-vous manqué entre les valeurs qui l'animaient, novatrices autant que réactionnaires, et la réalité complexe d'une civilisation en marche malgré lui. Il souligne aussi la tension entre son idéal philosophique, teinté de mysticisme ambitieux, et la mission du chef d'État qui aurait dû continuer d'œuvrer à l'unité impériale dans le respect des différences et dans une relative acceptation des médiocrités humaines. Discours d'adieu : Julien tourne le dos à Antioche pour suivre les traces d'Alexandre le Grand et mourir, quelques mois plus tard, sous les traits des Perses.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Humor, Ancient

96 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 363

About the author

Julian (Flavius Claudius Iulianus) "the Apostate", Roman Emperor, lived 331 or 332 to 363 CE. Born and educated in Constantinople as a Christian, after a precarious childhood he devoted himself to literature and philosophy and became a pagan, studying in various Greek cities. In 355 his cousin Emperor Constantius called him from Athens to the court at Milan, entitled him "Caesar", and made him governor of Gaul. Julian restored Gaul to prosperity and good government after the ravages of the Alamanni (he overthrew them at the battle of Strassburg in 357) and other Germans. Between 357 and 361 Julian's own soldiers, refusing to serve in the East at Constantius's orders, nearly involved Julian in war with Constantius—who however died in 361 so that Julian became sole Emperor of the Roman world. He began many reforms and proclaimed universal toleration in religion but pressed for the restoration of the older pagan worships. In 362–363 he prepared at Constantinople and then at Antioch for his expedition against Persia ruled by Shapur II. He died of a wound received in desperate battle.

Reviews

[andy · Rating 4 out of 5]

the english name for this is 'beard-hater' bc he constantly tlaks about they hate him bc he has a beard. read this for an assignment and i cant lie i had a good time. its a satire so its funny and ridiculous. goodreads only has the french version so that is what you guys get lol.

[Yann · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Contre la barbe" : cette barbe, c'est celle de Julien, surnommé "l'Apostat" par ses détracteurs, dont les habitants d'Antioche se moquaient dans des chansons pour épuiser sa patience. Empereur du quatrième siècle, neveu de Constantin, il dévora les œuvres des philosophes dans sa jeunesse, pillant en cachette les bibliothèques. Arrivé au sommet de l'empire, il tenta de contrecarrer l'inexorable succès de la religion chrétienne qui l'exaspérait, regrettant le culte ancestral des dieux païens. Dans ce texte, il égrène une série d'antiphrases dans lesquelles il simule une autocritique qui vise en fait à fustiger les erreurs de ses contemporains, qu'il ne comprend pas. Cette ironie, loin d'être légère, et au contraire pleine d'amertume et de ressentiment, et on est embarrassé de voir ce souverain en proie à l'incompréhension et au mépris réciproque avec son peuple. Le texte fourmille de référence à la culture classique, et ne manque pas de sel.

[Eric · Rating 3 out of 5]

Julian the Apostate was annoyed...disrespected by the inhabitants of Antioch, he defends himself in "Beard Haters" with sarcasm, irony and a good measure of wit. Yet his humorous reference to his own unkempt beard with lice running freely about is an image that you would think an emperor of Rome would avoid, yet he uses it an a device to heap shame on the "effeminate, licentious, greedy" Antiochans for their disrespect of himself and the gods. It's amazing this pamphlet has survived the passage of time, considering Christianity was on the rise and Hellenistic literature was marked for destruction. Soon, Julian's Roman gods would fade into the past, cast as forgotten myths.

[Kamyar Jumabhoy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Though the Misopogon begins with self-satirization, Julian gets increasingly frank with his criticisms of the Antiochian licentiousness, extravagence, and disregard of traditional Roman mores and values. Some information on tax benefits given by Julian to Antioch, famine (which Julian says he tried to fix, but blames on the Antiochians), and other domestic affairs, but nothing particularly detailed: mostly rhetorically focused. Julian (though only in passing) seems to blame their Christendom for their shortcomings: he relishes in the neighbouring cities' decision to tear down Churches.

Did Julian want to make himself seem more offended so that the Antiochians would abandon their religion and return to Paganism? Rhetoric has a goal, and if so, this was quite possibly Julian's goal.

5/10

[⏺ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a venomous and odd satire, and very fun at that:

"Now as for praising myself, though I should be very glad to do so, I have no reason for that; but for criticising myself I have countless reasons, and first I will begin with my face."

[natasha ☆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

yes brother never let the haters diss your beard so true

[Xavier · Rating 4 out of 5]

-- for it surely is not to be believed that out of goodwill towards you I spoke those words to you then; but I was, I think, hunting after a reputation for piety towards the gods and for sincere good-will towards you, which is, I think, the most absurd form of flattery.