In Our Time

Julian the Apostate

14 snips
Apr 18, 2024
Join experts James Corke-Webster, a Classicist, and Lea Niccolai, a scholar in Christianity and philosophy, as they delve into the life of Julian the Apostate, the last pagan Roman emperor. They discuss Julian's audacious attempts to revive paganism in a predominantly Christian empire and his philosophical evolution influenced by Neoplatonism. The conversation highlights his military exploits, his satirical writings, and the lasting legacy of his complex reign amid ideological battles that shaped the Roman world.
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INSIGHT

Julian's Impact

  • Julian, despite ruling briefly (361-363 AD), significantly impacted history.
  • He aimed to restore paganism, challenging Constantine's Christian influence.
ANECDOTE

Family Purge

  • Julian's family suffered during the "Summer of Blood" (337 AD) after Constantine's death.
  • Constantius II, Julian's cousin, orchestrated the killings to secure power.
ANECDOTE

Education and Conversion

  • Julian's education began with Bishop Eusebius of Nicomedia, ironically, given his later pagan beliefs.
  • He studied traditional subjects like Plato and rhetoric before embracing Neoplatonism.
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