Letters of Julian/Letter 49

by Julian

49. To Ecdicius, Prefect of Egypt

[362 or early in 363, from Antioch]

If there is anything that deserves our fostering care, it is the sacred art of music. Do you therefore select from the citizens of Alexandria^[1] boys of good birth, and give orders that two artabae^[2] of corn are to be furnished every month to each of them, with olive oil also, and wine. The overseers of the Treasury will provide them with clothing. For the present let these boys be chosen for their voices, but if any of them should prove capable of attaining to the higher study of the science of music, let them be informed that very considerable rewards for their work have been set aside at my court also. For they must believe those who have expressed right opinions on these matters that they themselves rather than we will be purified in soul by divinely inspired^[3] music, and benefit thereby. So much, then, for the boys. As for those who are now the pupils of Dioscorus the musician, do you urge them to apply themselves to the art with still more zeal, for I am ready to assist them to whatever they may wish.

Footnotes

1. For the study of music at Alexandria cf. Ammianus Marcellinus 22. 16. 17, nondumque apud eos penitus exaruit musica, nec harmonia conticuit.
2. The artaba, an Egyptian dry measure, was equivalent to about nine gallons.
3. Julian does not mean sacred music in particular; cf. Vol. 1, Oration 3. 111c, where θεία is used of secular music.