Empire 137. Empress Theodora: Making Heaven on Earth
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Apr 3, 2024 Peter Sarris, a Professor at Cambridge and expert on Empress Theodora, shares insights into the extraordinary life of this Byzantine icon. He reveals how Theodora transformed her tumultuous past into a powerful legacy, advocating for women's rights and influencing legal reforms alongside Emperor Justinian. Their ambitious projects, like the magnificent Hagia Sophia, are explored, as is the political chaos within Constantinople that they navigated. Sarris also discusses Theodora's complex legacy and her eventual canonization, shedding light on her role as both a ruler and a beacon of charity.
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Theodora's Rise to Power
- Empress Theodora, despite a difficult past, rose to become a powerful figure in the Roman Empire.
- She co-ruled alongside her husband, Justinian, challenging traditional power structures.
Constantinople: The Empire's Heart
- Constantinople thrived as the world's greatest city in the 6th century, despite the Western Roman Empire's fall.
- Its heart was the palace, Hippodrome, Hagia Sophia, and Senate House, connected by ornamented squares and roads.
Justinian's Reign
- Justinian aimed to re-establish Christian dominance, resolve church divisions, and restore legal order.
- His reign was marked by religious intolerance and crackdowns on pagans, heretics, Jews, and Samaritans.