The Later Roman Empire: (a.D. 354-378) by Ammianus Marcellinus

Author:Ammianus Marcellinus
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: History, Ancient, Rome, General, Europe, Literary Collections, Ancient & Classical
Publisher: Penguin UK
Published: 2004-07-01T05:19:21+00:00

BOOK 23

1. Attempted restoration of the temple at Jerusalem (A.D. 363).

These in broad outline were the events of that year. But Julian, who had already been consul three times, now entered on his fourth tenure of the highest magistracy, taking as his colleague Sallustius, the prefect of Gaul. The association of a private citizen with the emperor was a novelty; the last recorded instance was that of Aristobulus with Diocletian. In spite of his extreme eagerness to push on the multifarious preparations for his campaign and his anxiety to be forearmed against all contingencies, Julian none the less extended his activity into every field. His desire to leave a great monument to perpetuate the memory of his reign led him to think in particular of restoring at enormous expense the once magnificent temple at Jerusalem, which, after much bitter fighting during its siege first by Vespasian and then by Titus, had finally been stormed with great difficulty. Alypius of Antioch, who had once governed Britain as the praetorian prefects’ deputy, was placed in charge of this project. He set to work boldly, assisted by the governor of the province, but repeated and alarming outbursts of fire-balls near the foundations made it impossible to approach the spot. Some of the workmen were burnt to death, and the obstinate resistance of the fiery element caused the design to be abandoned.

At the same period the emperor conferred various honours on envoys sent to him from the Eternal City, men of distinguished family and approved worth. Apronian was appointed prefect of Rome and Octavian proconsul of Africa. The governorship of Spain was entrusted to Venustus, and Rufinus Aradius was promoted to be count of the East in place of the emperor’s uncle Julian, who had recently died. After making these arrangements Julian was alarmed by an omen which subsequent events proved to be all too accurate. Felix, count of the largesses, had died suddenly of a haemorrhage and had been followed to the grave by count Julian. The populace, taking their cue from the emperor’s official titles, uttered them in the order Felix, Julian – Augustus. There had also been another unlucky incident. On the very first day of January, when the emperor was ascending the steps of the temple of the Genius of the Roman people, one of the priests in attendance, who was older than the rest, suddenly fell, though no one pushed him, and died a totally unexpected death. The bystanders, either from ignorance or from a desire to flatter Julian, insisted that the omen applied to the older of the two consuls, that is to Sallustius. But events showed that it pointed to the approaching death not of the senior in age but of the senior in rank.

Besides these, other less important signs indicated on various occasions what was to ensue. At the very start of the preparations for the Parthian war it was reported that Constantinople had been shaken by an earthquake, and the experts announced that this was not a happy omen for a ruler who was intent on invading the territory of another.

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