La comunità degli Elleni: cultura e potere alla corte dell’imperatore Giuliano

Emperor Julian achieved two important parts of his reform project in different times. The first part consisted in the renovation of the consistorium, aimed at forming a new ruling class to help him in administrative and military affairs, and he did this in the period between the Augustan proclamation and his arrival with the army in Illyricum (waiting for the final battle with Constantius II, his cousin: spring 360-November 361).

But soon after he had the news of his cousin’s sudden death (November 361), being free to act, he engaged himself in the re-institution of an Hellenic community, gathering around himself philosophers and other pagan intellectuals whom he had met at the time of his studies in Asia Minor and Athens, in order to help him restore traditional cults. This was his preoccupation until the time he left for the Persian expedition (March 363).

My paper traces back these phases and identify the people invited by Julian to collaborate with him in the two periods, identifying the reason behind his choices. Members of the consistorium can be identified and details can be given of their social background, culture and cursus honorum. Philosophers and rhetors can also be identified, focusing on the kind of collaboration they offered.

This research shows that the new consistorium was made up of Western pagan officials, competent administrators, and loyal to the emperor. The Hellenic community, on the other hand, was formed by philosophers and rhetors of Oriental origin, but its success was limited: some of the most prestigious personalities and masters of Julian refused to take part in it as philosophers did not take interest in active politics; there were different cultural, political and religious points of view; and, finally personal ambitions were high. Julian’s project wanted a reunion of Western and Eastern traditions within the Empire but the obstacles he found were very strong.