Giuliano e l'arte della 'nobile menzogna' (Or. 7, Contro il Cinico Eraclio)

This paper presents a comprehensive interpretation of Julian's oration "Against the Cynic Heraclius." The author demonstrates how all parts of the speech are integrated into a coherent project aimed at demonstrating the centrality of myth within the political-religious project developed by the emperor. In dealing with myth, Julian reveals his familiarity with both rhetorical treatises and Neoplatonic hermeneutic doctrines; he reinterprets the myths of Heracles and Dionysus in an anti-Christian sense; he constructs a myth about himself, his childhood, and his rise to the throne, in a highly allegorical text that can be considered an example of those “noble lies” employed by Platonic philosopher-kings for protreptic purposes.