本文處理皇帝尤利安(Julian, 331-363,361-363在位)的一篇書信,即《代表阿戈斯人》(On Behalf of the Argives)信函。該信函展現多樣的政治張力:歷史與現世權力、希臘性與羅馬性、哲學與政治等。尤利安將這些張力統歸於「希臘主義」之核心,並針對個案明確表達了自己的希臘主義意涵。本文梳理尤利安論證自身立場的方式,對比他在其他作品中對希臘主義的闡釋,探討地方政治與知識菁英如何藉希臘主義謀求政治利益。藉此,本文呈現作為政治符號的希臘主義,在尤利安治下政治交流中的作用。餘論指出,在古代晚期的希臘世界,對「希臘主義」多樣化的闡釋,為政治運作提供了空間。
This essay offers a case study on the letter On Behalf of the Argives of emperor Julian. The letter encapsulated several tensions: historical versus present power, Greekness versus Roman power, philosophy versus politics, et cetera. Julian, by unifying these tensions with the crux "Hellenism," made a clear proposition on his idea of Hellenism concerning the dispute. By examining Julian's self-justification, comparing his explanation of Hellenism in the letter with his other writings, and how local political and intellectual elites gained political profits by performing Hellenism, this essay explores the role Hellenism as a political symbol played in the political communication during Julian's reign. The conclusion points out the diverse natures of Hellenism in the late-antique Greek world, and that the various interpretation of Hellenism created space for political manoeuvre.