Like in any classic love story, Justinian and his wife Theodora overcame the separation of socioeconomic classes. Despite being born into poverty, Justinian was the first member of this couple to rise from the ashes as he moved to Constantinople with his uncle Justin. There, Justinian gained an education and inherited the empire from his uncle in 527 BCE.
Before becoming emperor, however, Justinian was married in 525 to Theodora--a woman who was at the bottom of the money-chain. Working as an actress and a harlot, Theodora was not deemed "worthy" to be an emperor's wife. However, loving her for more than just her looks (Theodora was supposedly quite smart), Justinian convinced his uncle to change the laws so that he could marry his one true love. Theodora continued on to be one of Justinian's most trusted advisers.
This mosaic depicting Theodora and her attendants adorns the south wall of the apse in the San Vitale church in Ravenna, Italy (a place neither she nor Justinian ever visited). In Theodora's hands rests the golden cup used to hold the Eucharist wine. She and her attendants are waiting underneath an imperial canopy for Justinian to proceed into the apse (in a mosaic reflected on the opposite wall of the apse). And although the portrayal of Theodora waiting for Justinian shows that she was not of equal rank, the fact that she was even illustrated in this mosaic testifies of Theodora's importance in Justinian's rule. This role is emphasized with the illustration of the three magi at the bottom of her robe--suggesting that she is of high enough importance to even be in the same company as the wise men of the East.
And that position, especially for a woman during that time, is truly a story of one who went from rags to riches.
Before becoming emperor, however, Justinian was married in 525 to Theodora--a woman who was at the bottom of the money-chain. Working as an actress and a harlot, Theodora was not deemed "worthy" to be an emperor's wife. However, loving her for more than just her looks (Theodora was supposedly quite smart), Justinian convinced his uncle to change the laws so that he could marry his one true love. Theodora continued on to be one of Justinian's most trusted advisers.
This mosaic depicting Theodora and her attendants adorns the south wall of the apse in the San Vitale church in Ravenna, Italy (a place neither she nor Justinian ever visited). In Theodora's hands rests the golden cup used to hold the Eucharist wine. She and her attendants are waiting underneath an imperial canopy for Justinian to proceed into the apse (in a mosaic reflected on the opposite wall of the apse). And although the portrayal of Theodora waiting for Justinian shows that she was not of equal rank, the fact that she was even illustrated in this mosaic testifies of Theodora's importance in Justinian's rule. This role is emphasized with the illustration of the three magi at the bottom of her robe--suggesting that she is of high enough importance to even be in the same company as the wise men of the East.
And that position, especially for a woman during that time, is truly a story of one who went from rags to riches.
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