Theodora
Western Europeans also known as Byzantines brought a huge amount of culture and arts. Named after the Roman Emperor, Byzantium was certainly the continuasion of the eastern Roman Empire. (Fordham university)
The Byzantine empire started when the Emperor Constantine (later called “the great”) wanted to move the Western Roman Empire’s Capital to the eastern Roman empire, in Constantinople. Byzantium became over the years Greek, due to the fact that the basic language became Greek and the classical Greek education was taught (philosophy, astronomy, physics, science, mathematics, etc…). (source: my dad )
Theodora, possibly the most powerful woman in the Byzantine History. Because of her intelligence, she helped her husband Justinian I with decisions, he made and she was the only woman who was part of the council and could indeed make decisions. Empress of the Byzantine empire, was born in c.497 CE and died in June /28/548 in Constantinople or as called
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Theodora became an actress at her very early years, and then followed as a prostitute. While being a prostitute, she met Justinian I. Justinian I was attracted by her beauty and intelligence, claimed her as his companion and later on married her in 525 ACE. (Universalis éducation)
Theodora became a character in a popular Greek legend for possessing qualities of a hero. Heros were characterized as defenders and protectors, Theodora’s personality was similar to a hero’s. She was wise and very beautiful with qualities connected to classical hero’s. (Ancient History encyclopedia)
Theodora adequately influenced the history of the Byzantium, not only by helping her husband Justinian I but also by changing the laws and rights. Because of these acts she is referred as a heroine. Theodora nevertheless had historians like Procopius putting the spotlight on the deaths the dissuasion cost. (Ancient History
This paper will discuss the well published work of, Pomeroy, Sarah B. Goddesses, Whores, Wives, and Slaves: Women in Classical Antiquity. New York: Schocken, 1975. Print. Sarah B. Pomerory uses this book to educate others about the role women have played throughout ancient history. Pomerory uses a timeline to go through each role, starting with mythological women, who were called Goddesses. She then talks about some common roles, the whores, wives, and slaves during this time. Pomerory enlightens the audience on the topic of women, who were seen as nothing at the time. Men were seen as the only crucial part in history; however, Pomerory’s focus on women portrays the era in a new light.
Much of past civilizations have endured many failures and triumphs throughout their existence. In the third century, there were many civilizations that started to flourish. One of these civilizations that started to expand was the Byzantine civilization. The Byzantine civilization, also regarded as Byzantium, was part of the Roman Empire which was divided in 395 AD. Byzantium had shared the same attitude, as the Roman Empire, toward exercising its authority over its citizens and throughout its empire. The Islamic civilization had started thrive in the fifth century. The Islamic civilization was unified together as unison by Islam and it has expanded its civilization throughout parts of Europe through jihad. Because of their expansions throughout parts of Europe, they shared various similarities which include their political system, social structure, and economy.
During the Greco-Persian wars, Artemisia allied with the Persian king, Xerxes, as one of his Naval Commanders. Every ancient account of Artemisia depicts her as a brave and clever woman who was a valued asset
Empress Theodora has influenced many important laws and has encourage the people of Byzantine, no matter how hard it may be, to work and stick together. Empress Theodora influenced her husband, Justinian, to examine and change many important laws protecting women and children. They made it to where women were able to own their own properties and homes. Before, the law changed women were unable to own their own properties, they had to live with men. Also, Empress Theodora influenced Justinian to change the child abandonment law. Back then if you were to have a baby and didn’t want it, you could just leave it on the street to die of exposure.
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
Athena was the Greek Goddess of many ideas, but she was famous mostly for her superior wisdom, her cunning skills in times of war, and her implausible talent for household tasks, such as weaving and pottery. She was celebrated more than any other God in ancient mythology, was the supposed inventor of countless innovations, and her figure gave reason for Greek woman to gain rights long before others of their time. The goddess of war, the guardian of Athens, and the defender of Heroes; Athena’s impact on the lives of Ancient Greeks is outstanding.
Having not too much power left, Theodora’s Mother decided to embellish her little daughters; She had them supplicating for a job. Once each of the girls started growing and become more attractive, the mother would send them to stage to perform.
Greek women, as depicted as in their history and literature, endure many hardships and struggle to establish a meaningful status in their society. In the Odyssey, Penelope’s only role in the epic is to support Odysseus and remain loyal to him. She is at home and struggles to keep her family intact while Odysseus is away trying to return to his native land. The cultural role of women is depicted as being supportive of man and nothing more. Yet what women in ancient Greece did long ago was by far more impressive than what men did.
also the goddess of war and the patroness of arts and crafts. Which led her to be a great leader
Theodora was the wife of the Byzantine Emperor. She had immense power, as she was her husband's steely adviser. Theodora had restored icons to Eastern Churches in 843. Theodora had become an actress and had been well known in her teens. The Byzantine’s future ruler had met her and had fallen in love, but she had been an actress, it had meant that they could not marry because there was a law that said actresses could not marry. He had her named as a member of the noble class, and it had changed so it no longer applied to former actresses. They had married and then two years later they had become Emperor and Empress of the Byzantine Empire. She had worked alongside him for more than 20 years. She had made divorce laws more favorable for women.
Empress Theodora was not an average woman in the Byzantine Empire, rather she was the most powerful empress of the Byzantine Empire. She met every requirement to be a great leader, but instead she ruled with her husband, Justinian. Theodora had beauty, intelligence, glamour, and was pleasing with intelligence that helped change the empire in many ways.
In Greek mythology, most heroes were only known for their bravery and the majority were men. Although Odysseus was a great warrior and conducted many great acts of heroism, he also influenced women's role in society.
Homer describes Helen as the worlds most beautiful women at the time. She is the daughter of the Olympian god, Zeus and her mother is known to be Leda. When she was young Greek mythology states that Helen was rescued by her brothers when she was taken by Theseus. Helen`s sister, Clytemnestra was married to Agamemnon. Helen was the most desired woman by all men from all over Greek, she had many suitors come for her hand but Menelaus, the younger brother of her sister’s husband, Agamemnon was the lucky one. Helen choose Menelaus as her suitor and married him and became his Queen. As he was king of Sparta.
The two major examples from the period examined are Danielis and Zoe Karbonopsina. Danielis is a woman Basil I encounters when he is traveling in the Peloponnese with his master Theophilos before he was emperor. While there, a monk randomly greats Basil as if he is an emperor and disrespects Basil’s master. Danielis, described as “ranked first in that region, by both her way of life and her high-birth,” heard the story of the monk’s behavior and knowing he had the power of “foretelling the future,” asked the monk why he acted so. The monk told her Basil would one day be Emperor and those chosen by God should be revered. This causes Danielis to summon Basil and gift him considerable favors and gifts, the only thing she requested in return was that he formal bond with take her son. Basil agrees and also promises Danielis that if he does become emperor he would make her “mistress of all that area.” Years later, once Basil is emperor, he has kept his word in having a bond with Danielis’ son, who was a protopatharios, and sends for Danielis to come to Constantinople. When she arrives after being “carried in relays by three hundred strong young servants of her choosing,” Basil holds a reception for her in the Manguara, which is usually reserved for very distinguished guests. The last description of Danielis is when she visits Leo VI once he is emperor and names him heir to all her worldly goods. In Synopsis, Danielis is not defined through her marriage, her children, or through participation of a malevolent act. Danielis has agency, something few women in Synopsis exercise and she uses it for purposes that are not murder or seizing power. Danielis is the true outlier of all of the women reviewed in this paper as she is a relevant and revered woman, who acts on her own accord for purposes that are not outright evil. Danielis’ unique status is more than likely a result of the fact that she
Constantinople was the heart of the Byzantine Empire. It became the capital of the Ottoman Empire when it was conquered in 1453 by the Ottoman Sultan Mehmet II.