A war of words: Julian the Apostate's attempt to affect moral change in the Roman Empire.

Abstract

To summarise: the emperor considered the gods to be representative of the highest moral standard. They were to be the role models for a pious life, and were responsible for everything the natural world had afforded humanity. Any description of discord between the gods was deemed false and impious. Julian did not think himself worthy of the moral standing a pontifex maximus was to be held by, but tried to be. Priests, in turn, had not fulfilled their task admirably enough either.