Julian the Apostate

:For other meanings of Julian, see Julian (disambiguation).

Julian as a writer

Julian wrote several works in Greek, some of which have come down to us.

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• Hymn to King Helios
• Hymn to the Mother of the Gods
• Two panegyrics to Constantius

The above are hard for the modern reader to digest. The religious works

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contain involved philosophical speculations and the panegyrics to Constantius

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are formulaic and elaborate in style.

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The following works, on the other hand, are quite accessible and readable.

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• Misopogon or :Beard Hater:- a light-hearted account of his clash with some of his subjects after he was mocked for his beard and generally scruffy appearance for an emperor
• The Caesars - a humorous tale of a contest between some of the most notable Roman emperors, including Alexander the Great for good measure. This was a satiric attack upon the recent Constantine the Great of whose worth, both as Christians and as leaders of the Roman Empire, Julian severely questions.
• Against the Galilaeans - a critique of Christianity, only partially preserved, thanks to Cyril of Alexandria's rebuttal Against Julian.