The Sorcery Found at Carrhae

After Julian was slain, the trickery of his sorcery came to light. For Carrhae is a city that still keeps the remains of his false religion. Julian had passed Edessa by on his left, because that city was adorned with the grace of true religion. While in his empty folly he was traveling through Carrhae, he went to the temple that the impious honor. After performing certain rites there with his partners in defilement, he locked and sealed the doors and posted guards with orders that no one was to go in until he came back. When news came of his death, and the reign of wickedness gave way to a reign of piety, the shrine was opened. Inside was found a proof of the late emperor’s manliness, wisdom and piety. A woman was seen hanging up high by the hair of her head, with her hands stretched out. The villain had cut open her belly, and so, I suppose, learned from her liver of his victory over the Persians. [a] This was the abomination discovered at Carrhae.