Giuliano - Caesares - [I Cesari] - 1736

EMPERORS AS PAGANID DESIGNS, BETWEEN SATIRE AND HISTORY: GIULIANO REVIVES IN THE EIGHTEENTH-CENTURY STUDIOUS EDITION
This 1736 edition of the Caesars of Emperor Julian represents a refined eighteenth-century editorial operation that unites late antique political satire, philological erudition, and antiquarian culture. The text, famous for its ironic portrayal of the Roman emperors summoned to a divine banquet, is here accompanied by annotations from various scholars, the interpretation of Ezechiel Spanheim, and Latin and French translations, greatly expanding the work’s accessibility. The addition of imperial coins engraved into the volume places the book within the antique taste of the time, transforming it into an object halfway between a schoolbook and a visual compendium of Romanity. Printed in Gotha, one of the most vibrant cultural centers of Protestant Germany, the volume fully reflects the Enlightenment ideal of a critical recovery of antiquity.
MARKET VALUE
The eighteenth-century editions of Giuliano with erudite apparatus and numismatic plates occupy a mid-interest market range, sustained by interest in Roman history and antique culture. Complete copies of the plates and in good condition are generally found between €550 and €800.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION AND CONDITION
Contemporary parchment binding. Illustrated title-page and 4 plates out of text depicting imperial coins. Pages with some foxing and marginal wear. In ancient books, with a centuries-long history, there may be some imperfections, not always noted in the description. Pp. (4); 26nn; 264; 36nn; (4).

FULL TITLE AND AUTHOR
Caesares, integris adnotationibus aliquot doctorum virorum et selectis Ezechielis Spanhemii interpretatione, item latina et gallica, additis imperatorum nummis […].
Gothae, Ex Officina Reyheriana, 1736.
Flavius Claudius Iulianus.

CONTEXT AND SIGNIFICANCE
The Caesars by Julian, written in the 4th century A.D., are a unique text in the landscape of late antique literature: a philosophical-political satire in which the Roman emperors are judged in a quasi-theatrical and mythological setting. The 1736 edition amplifies this dimension thanks to the critical apparatus and translations, making the text accessible to a learned European audience. The inclusion of the numismatic plates reflects antiquarian interest in the material testimonies of antiquity, transforming the volume into an interdisciplinary object that unites philology, history, and imperial iconography. The work fits into the broader context of German erudite Enlightenment, where the rediscovery of ancient texts goes hand in hand with a systematic will to interpret and classify.

BIOGRAPHY OF THE AUTHOR
Flavius Claudius Julianus (331–363 A.D.), known as Julian the Apostate, was a Roman emperor and a Neoplatonist philosopher. Renowned for his attempt to restore traditional paganism in opposition to Christianity, which was already dominant, he was also the author of numerous philosophical, religious, and satirical writings. The Caesars represent one of his most original works, in which he combines irony, political critique, and classical culture.

PRINTING HISTORY AND CIRCULATION
The Gotha edition of 1736, edited by Christian Sigismund Liebe, is based on the interpretive work of Ezechiel Spanheim, one of the most important numismatic and philological scholars of the 17th century. Printed at the Reyher Press, it reflects the high level of German typographic production of the time. The volume circulated mainly among scholars and antiquarians, appreciated by students of Roman history, coin collectors, and readers interested in classical literature.

BIBLIOGRAPHY AND REFERENCES
Graesse, Trésor de livres rares, s.v. Julianus.
Brunet, Manuel du libraire, III, col. 588–590 (editions of Giuliano).
Ezechiel Spanheim, De praestantia et usu numismatum antiquorum, Rome, 1664 (for the numismatic context).
WorldCat/OCLC: records for the Gotha edition, 1736.
VD18 (Verzeichnis der im deutschen Sprachraum erschienenen Drucke des 18. Jahrhunderts), entry to be verified for this specific edition.
ICCU/OPAC SBN: copies held in Italian libraries (records to be verified).