Two Orations of the Emperor Julian

Two Orations of the Emperor Julian is a philosophical and religious work translated into English by the Neoplatonic scholar Thomas Taylor. Written during the Roman emperor Julian the Apostate’s brief reign in the 4th century CE, these orations present a passionate defence of traditional pagan religion and Platonic philosophy at a time when Christianity was rapidly becoming dominant in the Roman Empire.

Julian, who succeeded Constantius II in 361 CE, famously rejected Christianity in favour of the ancient Hellenic traditions, earning the title “the Apostate” from later Christian historians. During his short rule he attempted to revive classical pagan worship, restore temples, and promote a philosophical religious system rooted in Neoplatonism.

The central texts in this volume — Oration to the Sovereign Sun and Oration to the Mother of the Gods — explore Julian’s theological vision of the cosmos. Drawing heavily on Platonic and Hellenic traditions, the emperor presents the sun god Helios as a supreme divine principle and celebrates the cosmic role of the Great Mother goddess Cybele. These works combine philosophy, theology, and imperial ideology, offering a rare glimpse into the final intellectual flowering of pagan thought in the late Roman world.

Also included are introductory pieces addressed to Apollo and reflections on the ancient Platonic philosophers, situating Julian’s religious ideas within the wider tradition of Greek philosophy. Together, these writings provide a fascinating window into the spiritual ambitions of Rome’s last pagan emperor and the philosophical foundations of his attempted revival of classical religion.