Nabaun Noor
HIS 204
Professor Bostwick
February 14, 2018
Homework # 1
Compare and contrast how Procopius presents Theodora in “How Theodora most depraved …” to how he presents Theodora in “Theodora of Constantinople”.
Procopius wrote about Theodora, who was Justinian’s wife and also empress to Rome. He talks about Theodora’s controversial past promiscuous habits and her role as an emperor throughout both of the article. She was a daughter of a bear trainer who won the love of Emperor Justinian of Constantinople. She became one of the more powerful rulers that controlled the Byzantine empire.
In Article 1, he graphically describes the sexual behavior of Theodora in her young lowly upbringing. When she used to work in the circus as
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an actor in her early days are vividly portrayed; Procopius tells how Theodora was a prostitute in every possible way. In the reading, “How Theodora, Most Depraved of all Courtesans, Won his Love”, Procopius describes how “on the field of pleasure she was never defeated.” (Line 8) It is also said that “there was no shame in the girl, and no one ever saw her dismayed: no role was too scandalous…” (Line, 4) With novel methods of sensuality, she could always bring the lascivious to her feet.
Theodora would also "with inviting jests and a comic flaunting of her skirts herself..,”( Line 9) tempted all the men and mostly young boys. Theodora made a name for herself by stripping off her clothes as far as the law allowed, for complete nudity was banned, “ she removed her costume and stood nude in their midst, except for a girdle about the groin.” ( Line 12) Theodora worked as a prostitute in a house of ill-repute overhauling low-status customers, that she would engage in entertaining with 10 young men or more in a single night. It was said that she “gave her youth to anyone she met, in utter abandonment.”( Line …show more content…
2) In both articles, we see that Theodora is characterized as a dancer and actress. She is also seen as Savage to many men and women. In article 2, Procopius depict Theodora as who acknowledges her position of power by showing how she correspondence relating to foreign affairs with emperor Justinian.
He further goes on describing Theodora's role as empress and her influence on Justinian. Procopius’s viewpoint regarding Theodora differs in this article. In his “ The History of the wars of Justinian,” we see that how Theodora soon demonstrated what she was made amid what came to be known as the 'Nika' riots. A riot began in the Hippodrome amid a chariot race. The agitators had numerous grievances, some of which originated from Justinian and Theodora's own particular activities. The rioters have set numerous buildings on fire. Unable to control the protestors, Justinian and his authorities proposing escaping the legislative center yet Theodora announced that she would not escape. She called attention to the centrality of dying as a ruler as opposed to living in a state of banishment or covering up. She broadly proclaimed that 'purple is a fair winding sheet.' Hearing her speech, Justinian requested his troops to storm the Hippodrome, having to execute 30,000. After his triumph, Justinian gave Theodora genuine power, making her his co-ruler and the most powerful lady in the Byzantine Empire. He always remembered that because of her his empire was saved. Theodora turned into Justinian's right hand, and his
adviser. She was described an as a charmer and full of wit and vivacity. For her intelligence, she was able to rule and have a vast influence on power as a strong capable ruler. As Empress, Theodora used her power and influence on imperial policy to close brothels, forced prostitution, she opened an institution where ex-prostitutes could support themselves, also expanded the rights of women in divorce and owning property. She also prohibited the vulnerability of unwanted infants and gave mothers custody rights over their children. Procopius wrote about the empress’s role toward women who were poor and misfortunate and gave them more status in the society. Even After her death, her influence continued to spread and affect byzantine empire. Works Cited: Procopius, “ How Theodora, Most Depraved OF All Courtesans, Won His Love.” Procopius, “ Theodora Of Constantinople.”
Theodora’s story starts with a distinctive start. Her father was a bear trainer that worked in the Hippodrome in Constantinople and she grew up in the entertainment spotlight (Craig/Graham/Kagan/Ozment /Turner, 355, 2009). She was a mime and when she was older, she became an actress (Koeller, 1996). So, she not only lived in a circus, she also became a child star. Who would not want her childhood? But, back in that day, an actress was not a highly looked upon career for a women, therefore the term ‘actress’ was interchanged with ‘prostitute’ (Koeller, 1996). So, it might not have been the best...
The birth of an eastern circus woman attracted no attention at all in mid-millennium year 500. No one could ever imagine that this baby would grow up to be one of the most remarkable women in history of the World. She was the daughter of the bear keeper, a public performer,wife of Justinian, Empress of the Byzantine Empire and a natural beauty whose name became the one name in the voluminous annals of the Byzantine empire known to almost everyone; Theodora. Once the former show girl settled down to respectable married life, she touched every branch of life in the Empire. She had her finger on everything including military campaigns, architectural developments, and government policy and law reforms. With her intelligence and charm and her indomitable willpower she became the backbone of Justinian by being the partner in power. Her supremacy and authority over Justinian and her role in the empire made her a significant woman in the history and the empress of one of the great civilizations of the world. She brought Justinian a stabilizing influence and helped him shaped his policies and became the foreground of every picture of the period. For all the long series of masterful empresses none is as astonishing and stunning as the consort of Justinian. This essay will analyze the dynamic of the marriage between Justinian and Theodora and it will argue the importance of this marriage for the strength of the Byzantine Empire.
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2. Procopius starts this document stating that Theodora is nothing more than a prostitute. He goes on to say that she was not of class or had any dignity, because she would perform on stage almost completely nude. Procopius portrays her as someone who is ruthless and will do whatever she needs to do to accomplish her goals. Justinian would fall in love with her, but was not allowed to marry her because of his social status, because
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