Two of the most famous mosaics from the Byzantine period, from the
church of San Vitale in Ravenna, depict the sixth-century Emperor
Justinian and, on the wall facing him, his wife, Theodora
(497-548). This magestic portrait gives no inkling to Theodora's
very humble beginnings or her improbable rise to fame and power.
Raised in a family of circus performers near Constantinople's
Hippodrome, she became one of the most influential women in
Byzantine history. It was on stage as an actress-or, as some said,
"stage whore"-that Theodora caught the attention of the future
emperor Justinian. To the shock of the ruling elite, the two were
married, and when Justinian assumed power in 527, they ruled the
Eastern Roman Empire together. Their reign was the most celebrated
in Byzantine history, bringing wealth, prestige, and even Rome
itself back to the Empire. During this time Theodora was
Justinian's most trusted advisor, and her influence on the Empire
is discernible in a variety of important ways. Her interest in
social causes, for example, is seen in the added legal protections
for women and the lower classes. Theodora's most lasting impact was
her support for the unorthodox Christian sect of Monophysitism.
Although her husband was orthodox, Theodora maintained her
religions independence, and today in Syria, where the sect still
thrives, she is revered as a saint. In Theodora: Actress, Empress,
Saint, renowned historian David Potter provides a new account of
the life and times of this important historical figure. Potter
penetrates the highly biased accounts of her found in the writings
of her contemporaries and takes advantage of the latest research on
early Byzantium to craft a modern, well-rounded, and engaging
narrative of Theodora's life. There is simply nothing of this scope
currently available to historians or the general reader, and those
with an interest in ancient and women's history will be intrigued
by Potter's account of this fascinating figure.
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