A complete dictionary of the Greek and Roman antiquities explaining the obscure places in classic authors and ancient historians relating to the religion, mythology, history, geography and chronology of the ancient Greeks and Romans, their ... rites and customs, laws, polity, arts and engines of war : also an account of their navigations, arts and sciences and the inventors of them : with the lives and opinions of their philosophers / compiled originally in French ... by Monsieur Danet ; made English, with the addition of very useful mapps.

JULIANUS

sirnamed the Apostate, because he forsook the Christian Religion, after he had made profession thereof. The Emperor Constantius his Cousin elected him Caesar, and having adopted him, gave him his Sister Helena for his wife. He was learned, chast, va∣liant, laborious, sober, watchful, liberal, and a great lover of learned men. With these qualifications he got the affection of the Le∣gions, who proclaimed him Emperor in the City of Paris.

Constantius was much troubled at the hear∣ing this news, and leaving off his design a∣gainst the Persians to oppose Julian, he came to Tharsus, where he had some fits of a fever, and from thence to Mopvestus in Cilicia, where it increased so much that he died. Ammia∣nus Marcellinus writ that he named Julian for his successor; but St Gregory of Nazianzen says on the contrary, that in this last period of his life, he repented to have elected Julian to the Empire. As soon as Julian saw himself ab∣solute master by the death of Constantius, he ordered that the Temple of the false Gods should be opened, and their service set up a∣gain; and took upon him the office of High Priest, re-establishing all the Heathen ceremo∣nies, and restored those Priests to all their former Priviledges. He repaired the ruins of Idolatry, ordering that the Temples which were pulled down during the Reign of Con∣stantine and Constantius should be built again, and new ones added to them.

He ordered also that the Images of the Gods should be set up amongst his own, to deceive the Soldiers when the Donative was made; for it was a custom to offer Frankin∣cence to the Images of the Emperors at the time of that ceremony. At first few of the Christian Soldiers took notice of it, yet those who perceived that they honoured the false Gods, tho they designed only to honour the Emperors, were so much concerned at it that they refused the largess of the Prince, throwing at his feet in a scornful manner the money they had received from his libe∣rality.

Sozomen reports that by his own orders Ju∣piter was represented near him, as if he was come from Heaven on purpose to give him the badges of the Empire, and Mars and Mer∣cury's images were looking upon him, insinu∣ating by that posture that he was eloquent and valiant. And this Author observes, that he intended by these means to bring his Subjects under pretence of the honor due to him, to the adoration of the false Gods, who were re∣presented

with him. Wherefore St. Gregory of Nazianzen says, in his invective against Julian, that the ignorant people being de∣ceived were brought to adore the Pagan I∣mages. Besides, to flatter his own vanity, he commanded that he should be adored under the Image of Serapis, in imitation of Domi∣tian, who ordered that he should be repre∣sented by the figure of Pallas, and Nero who commanded a marble figure of his head to be set upon the body of a Coloss. Julian is re∣presented on a medal with a beard, contrary to the custom of his age; upon which ac∣count the Inhabitants of Antioch reproached him with ridiculous affectation; whereby he intended, it may be, to imitate Marcus Aurelius, who did wear a Philosophers beard. For Eutropius assures us that he affected to be his imitator, and was ambitious of the title of a Philosopher. At last, having engaged the Persians, his army was routed, and him∣self mortally wounded, and brought into his Camp, and the following night having held a long discourse with Maximus and Priscus con∣cerning the immortality of the soul, he died at one and thirty years of age, having reign∣ed but one year and seven months. 'Tis reported that when he found himself wound∣ed, he took some of his blood in his hand, and flung it against Heaven, pronouncing these words: Thou hast overcome, Galilean; for thus he called our Saviour in derision.

The Works he has left us shew both his Wit and Learning. The Panegyricks he had writ both in Prose and Verse, collected by Eunapius are lost; and there remains little of him, but the Invectives the Fathers have writ against him.