How Does Procopius Present Theodora

707 Words2 Pages

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 …show more content…

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…

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

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