Julian and Trump: Parallel Lives?

Dear reader, I write today out of a need to focus my mind – the state of the US politics is making me depressed more and more each day. The systematic rollout of our dystopian future weighs heavily on me.

Writing is one of the few things I still do to process my feelings – I hope it remains legal to do so. I have often said for years that we are living in Late Antiquity again, just with Wi-Fi this time. By this, I see a pattern in our era similar to the social transformation that occurred in Late Antiquity. Because of these similarities, I have called our period Late Modernity. There are many parallels I have noticed - mainly, the clash between two opposing worldviews. One is rising, trying to overthrow the established order, while the established tries to cling to life.

Late Antiquity is mainly notable for the rise of Christianity and its growing dominance throughout the Roman Empire, along with conflicts with the established order of the time, which included traditional polytheism and related intellectual traditions. In Late Modernity, we observe the emergence of left-liberal progressivism and its clashes with right-conservative traditionalism. On one side, there are values promoting equality, inclusion, and systemic reform, often challenging old social structures. On the other side, there is a focus on national myths and puritan moral codes, along with the defense of tradition against perceived cultural decline.

Right now, we see the strongest parallels between the two periods: the reactionary political figure who seeks to restore past glory. In Late Antiquity, that figure was Emperor Julian, and in Late Modernity, it's Trump. You might think this is an odd comparison; they are vastly different characters—Julian, a soldier and intellectual, and the other, a draft-dodging con man. They are, as individuals, miles apart. However, politically, they are both reactionary figures of their respective eras.

Julian and Trump rose to prominence during times when the push of cultural change seemed unstoppable, with each determined to push back against it. Julian, leading a pagan minority within an empire rapidly embracing Christianity, aimed to revive ancient cults and restore the classical cultural order. Trump, on the other hand, rallied conservatives, nationalists, the far-right, and disillusioned citizens who believed their country’s traditions and identity were slipping away under a rising progressive cultural dominance. Both positioned themselves as defenders of a declining greatness, addressing those who felt disconnected from the new order and promising to restore the ‘good old times’. Julian, you could say, wanted to Make Rome Great Again.

Now, people often say history repeats itself – I agree that it rhymes, not repeats. I hope Trump’s reign ends similarly to Julian’s, in failure. While I am sad that Julian failed in his mission, what stands out as perhaps a lesson is that the reactionary attempts to roll back time against a new, changing order are fated to fail. With this in mind, I now end this with a mind more settled and lifted than when I began.

I want to end this with two Orphic Hymns, which I turn to in times when Justice is needed.

To Nemesis

Nemesis, I call you, goddess, greatest of queens,

all-seeing, watching over the lives of many-tribed mortals;

eternal, reverend, sole delighter in the just,

changing variegate speech that is ever unstable,

whom all mortals dread, whose necks bear the yoke:

for the intentions of all are your care, nor ever escapes you

a soul over-proud, with immoderate outpour of words.

You watch all and hear all and preside over all,

in you lie the judgements of mortals, all-highest daimon.

Come, blessed, pure, ever aiding the mystai,

grant good understanding, put an end to all-hateful,

overbearing, unholy, deceitful intentions.

To Dike

The eye of Dike I sing, all-seeing, bright-form,

who sits on the holy throne of Zeus the king,

watching from heaven the lives of many-tribed mortals,

just avenger, bearing down upon the unjust,

impartially uniting the different in truth:

for all, all that evil intentions bring mortals,

is doubtful, to those willing excess with unjust designs;

you alone, approaching, bring the unjust justice:

hateful to the unjust, kind you abide with the just.

But goddess, come righteous to noble intentions,

always, until life’s destined day should arrive.

Translations by Daniel Malamis