The Last Olympiad

A turning point in history, the six years 389-395 AD saw many dramatic historical developments in the Roman Empire: the destruction of the temple of Serapis in Alexandria, the first excommunication of an emperor ever, the first murder of an emperor at the hands of his Germanic bodyguards, an imperial edict prohibiting all practice of any and all pagan religion, and the last significant rebellion of pagans against Christian rule. While Rome burns, intellectuals debate demon possession and bathing, Christians riot, burn, and murder for Christ,  pagans bemoan the end of their religion in rousing periods, and the dyspeptic Marcellinus Ammianus complains about the nasty character of the residents of the Eternal City.