Alla madre degli dei e altri discorsi

by Julian, Jacques Fontaine (Editor), Carlo Prato (Editor)

L'imperatore Giuliano fu un drammatico segno di lacerazione nella storia: esecrato dai cristiani, amato da pochi pagani e presto abbandonato dai suoi stessi discepoli. Il grande sogno della sua vita fu la restaurazione della religione pagana. Il volume presenta i suoi capolavori: la Lettera a Temistio, i discorsi Alla Madre degli dei, A Helios re e il Misopogon.

351 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 1987

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.