Theodora: Actress, Empress, Saint

Women in Antiquity

by David Stone Potter

An authoritative portrait of one of the ancient world's most intriguing and powerful women

Despite very humble beginnings, Theodora rose to become empress of the Byzantine Empire at the acme of its power and influence. Raised in a family of circus performers in Constantinople, she later caught the attention of the future emperor Justinian while performing as a courtesan. The two were married soon thereafter, to the shock of the ruling elite. When Justinian assumed power in AD 527, they ruled the Empire together until her death twenty years later.

Their reign was the most celebrated in Byzantine history, bringing wealth, prestige, and even much of the Italian peninsula back to the Empire. As Justinian's most trusted advisor, she discernibly influenced his rule. Her interest in social causes, for example, is seen in added legal protections for women and the lower classes. Theodora's most lasting impact was her unwavering support for the Christian sect of Monophysitism. Although her husband was orthodox, Theodora maintained her religious independence at considerable risk to herself. In Syria today, where the sect still thrives, she is revered as a saint.

In Theodora: Actress, Empress, Saint, renowned historian David Potter provides a fresh new account of her fascinating life and times. He penetrates the highly biased writings of her contemporaries and takes advantage of the latest research on early Byzantium to craft the most authoritative and engaging biography of Theodora to date. It will be of interest to all readers of women's history and ancient history.

Genres: History, Biography, Nonfiction, Research, Womens, Historical, Ancient History

280 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2015

About the author

David Potter is the author of Constantine the Emperor and The Victor’s Crown: A History of Ancient Sport from Homer to Byzantium. He is the Francis W. Kelsey Collegiate Professor of Greek and Roman History and Arthur F. Thurnau Professor at the University of Michigan.

Reviews

[Overbooked ✎ · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author’s extensive research work is evident but the reader should be warned that most of the content relating to Theodora is speculation. There is a profusion of “it is possible”, “there’s every reason to think”, “may well have been”, etc. This is due to the fact that there is little hard evidence about Theodora’ life that has reached us. Our main source are the writings of Procopius, who had a political agenda and certainly was not among her fans, consequently he is generally considered unreliable.

To supplement the little known facts of Theodora’s story (especially before she became empress), the author includes abundant facts and anecdotes of other political and religious figures related to Constantinople’s history (often not even her contemporaries) that, while providing an interesting historical background, are only peripheral to the empress’ life.

At times I felt that the author lost the focus of the book among the interesting but only moderately related details, nevertheless, this is a very good book for anyone interested in Byzantium during Justinian’s governance. 3.5 stars.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disclaimer: ARC via Netgalley.

I first heard of Theodora when I was trying to find out information about Eastern Empresses after watching a mini-series about Charlemagne. She wasn’t the Empress I was looking for, but she sure sounded interesting. The problem with Theodora is that she is so far in the past that finding accurate sources about her is difficult. The most famous is The Secret History by Procopius, but to say the author has issues with women would be accurate.

So it is to David Potter’s credit that he is able to draw an interesting picture and to make Theodora alive as any good biography of a modern subject. Potter does draw upon Procopius but he is careful in his use of The Secret History and fully discusses its use as a source before moving into his biography.

It would be fair to say that one can only guess at Theodora’s motives for doing some of what she did, such as her shelter for other women actresses or prostitutes, but Potter does a good job of making his case by showcasing what life was like at the time. In many ways, this ability to paint a time and place with words and accurate historical detail, without making the book dry as old paper. Additionally, Potter is able to challenge Procopius’ portrait of Theodora without making the Empress into boring woman, unlike a biography of Lucrezia Borgia, which disproved the poisoning stories, but made Borgia into such a boring figure that I wished she had murdered someone. Potter shows that Theodora was not the Empress slut that Procopius suggests/claims, but also makes her more fascinating because of what she actually did.

[Roman Clodia · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting biography of a fascinating woman: Theodora starts life as an actress in 6th century Constantinople, becomes a prostitute and then marries Justinian and becomes empress of the Roman empire.

Potter knows his period and is especially good on Constantinople, recreating the feel of the ancient city. At times, though, he seems to lose control of his material, going off on all kinds of tangents, digressions and diversions.

One of the main sources we have for Theodora is Procopius’ hostile The Secret History and it’s a bit of a missed opportunity that Potter doesn’t explicitly discuss the decisions he has made about using this source: he often debunks it (quite rightly, in my view) but then makes use of it when it coincides with his view of Theodora: given the primary audience for this series is Classics undergraduates, a more self-conscious engagement with methodological issues would have been helpful.

That said, this is mostly a lively read and one accessible to a general popular audience as well – recommended especially to anyone who has read Robert Graves’ old novel Belisarius, or Stella Duffy’s more recent fictional recreation of Theodora.

[Bandit · Rating 3 out of 5]

History never really got as fascinating as it was during the antiquity. In this book David Potter creates a portrait of one of the most significant women of her era. This was an interesting read, although not strictly a biography, more of a sociopolitical description of a specific time in history told in relation to one of its most famous contemporaries. There is just as much here about the emperor Justinian and the trials and tribulations of the empire split by Chalcedonian council into those denying monophysitism and those embracing it. There is a lot in this book in general, a very dense, textbook like text, which only occasionally remembers its subject as a main attraction and the general excitement of history. One of the main problems, of course, is the lack of source materials and the unreliability of the ones available. Nevertheless Potter plows through what looks like an exhaustive amount of research according to the notes to create a credible and even personable rendition. While unquestionably educational, the book was somewhat laborious of a read and so it was a welcome discovery when the last quarter turned out to be exclusively supplemental material. I learned a fair amount, so the main goal here was certainly met, though it did have me wishing to maybe have selected a well researched fictional account instead. Solid, albeit quite scholarly study.

[Laura Lacey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was really keen to read a book about Theodora, although I studied Classics that kind of ends with the fall of the Roman Empire, I knew little about the Byzantium period and thought the biography of an amazing woman from the period would be a good way in.
However as there is very little reliable, surviving evidence from this period about Theodora, this work has therefore become more a historical and piece about her times and the politics of the period; which is interesting but a little too dense for me. I found myself getting excited when the narrative came back to Theodora, but then there would only be a little about her.
This is certainly a well-researched piece of history that is reasonably accessible and covers a period that is not commonly taught, so it certainly has merit. For me, if this were to really be a portrait of Theodora, I would have preferred a shorter work that dealt with just the Empress and the interesting feminist issues surrounding her life and those facing women of the time. Potter describes the rules around marriage, class, the politics of the female body and their professions. As this is part of a series called Women in Antiquity, published by OUP, I think it would be fitting to focus on these issues - these were certainly the parts I enjoyed.

[Serhat Korkut · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kitabı Theodora’nın biyografisi beklentisiyle almıştım. Ancak kitabın içeriği daha çok Theodora’nın döneminde geçen olaylar şeklindeydi. Yazar belli ki yoğun bir araştırma yapmış, ancak eldeki kaynakların kısıtlılığı sebebiyle Theodora’ya ilişkin çok da bir şey anlatamamış. Kitabın geneli “şu şekilde olaylar yaşandı, Theodora muhtemelen bu olayda böyle yapmıştır” gibi geçiyor. Bu nedenle beklentimin oldukça altında kaldı.

[Tucker · Rating 4 out of 5]

An engaging biography. It includes Theodora's political relationship with the eunuch general Narses and a gripping account of the Nika rebellion.

[Teri Reck · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'll start with a caveat--this book may well be a history buff's dream of a book! However for me, it just was not as engaging as I had hoped. One reason being--that the author sets up a lot of the historical context in great detail, but at times, I felt like Theodora was kind of an afterthought. I think that I just expected more about her personally, her actual life, etc. and maybe those sort of things are not even known for sure. Her life has certainly been interpreted in many ways, some less than complimentary, to be sure. One thing that I did appreciate in this book was the attempt to debunk some of the lies and propaganda of those throughout history--both current to her times and beyond--who had great reason to portray her as less than admirable. But still, overall, it left me feeling after I finished that I didn't really know as much about Theodora herself as I had hoped.

[Elizabeth Grieve · Rating 4 out of 5]

I lived in Istanbul for some years and am fascinated by the ancient characters of its history, in particular Theodora. I found this book interesting, if a bit long-winded, and while there is much historical detail, a great deal of what is actually written about Theodora is speculative. This is understandable, as there is so little information available. I admire the author's work though as he has clearly done a tremendous amount of research, and I learned a lot about life in Byzantine Constantinople. I did hope for more illustrations and think the book would benefit from this.
Many thanks to the publisher for a digital review copy.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Empress Theodora was always a figure that interested me. From her start as an actress of the Hippodrome to the end of her life as empress and co-regent of Justinian, Theodora is a figure that has captured attention. I think this book is good at summarizing her major influences on the Byzantine emperor as well as the factors that would have influenced her life. Its too bad that not alot is known about her in her own words. Definitely a good book for those interested in Theodora.

[Ece Önder · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining and insightful, this biography is not overcrowded with the writer's thoughts and beliefs on the empress. He provides the reader with different perspectives and gives ideas on what might have happened on some occasions in history. Great read, I would recommend this to anyone interested in the sixth-century Byzantine.

[Rebecca :D · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a bit of a newbie to Byzantine studies, this book was a welcome introduction!

[Viviane Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Theodora, Empress and Great Love of Emperor Justinian in the early 500s, came from a family of circus performers which meant being actors and actresses. She would later fall in love, follow this lover and later be abandoned by him. Later as a secret agent she meets Justinian and they marry. At first Theodora doesn’t realize she is marrying the heir to the throne but in true feisty style Theodora adjusts to the change and proves to be a very wise ruler, often controlling the kingdom while Justinian was obsessed with creating a new code of laws that would last forever.
David Potter tells the story of Theodora by recounting the writings of historians famous in her lifetime. This makes for some very ironic, suspicious and avid reading as the reader faces many accounts that were probably not true but which reveal a modicum of the truth amid the exaggerations and outright falsities.
Procopius was one such writer who speculates that Theodora opened a home for former prostitutes because she was one in her younger years. His accounts seem to place an unduly large amount of space denigrating her and at times reveal prurient texts and scenes that perhaps say more about him than the object of his writing. Yes, she later opened a home for former prostitutes who would be able to learn a career that would not place them in so much danger. Another writer treats her with exaggerated respect and his treatment almost seems like a biography of a different, wholly loved and honored historical ruler.
A large part of the book is concerned with the Chalcedonian and anti-Chalcedonian factions concerned with interpreting the nature of Jesus Christ as fully divine or partly divine and partly human. One can underestimate the rivalry between these two groups but in reality it was as intense as the Green, Blue and other factions which affected politics, religion and culture in Theodora’s younger years. Theodora had a great deal to do with lessening the conflicts and potential violence always waiting to explode.
Although this is a biography of Theodora, it is also an explication of the culture and history of the Byzantine era. The author introduces the reader to the layout of the city, the structure of the games so important to Byzantine citizens, the entertainment offered through the denigrated actors and actresses, the yearning of the poor to escape their rigidly set social structure, the faith that ruled the country and empire, and Theodora’s role in all of the aforementioned subjects as well as the chaos that was to emerge during her rule.
Honoring her and Justinian in the icons or mosaics of Byzantium seems right after reading this book in which fact and fiction reveal a dynamic, intelligent, and very smart woman who is featured as an honored saint to this day. Well-researched, fascinating look at a remarkable woman!

[Lauralee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Empress Theodora was one of the most powerful women in the Byzantine Empire. However, history has not been favourable to her because she has garnered much negative criticism because of Procopius, a writer writing works about his times. Procopius is the only primary source about Theodora. In this biography of Theodora, the biographer sheds some light on his subject focusing on her positive aspects. While she does have some faults, Empress Theodora did have some accomplishments.

Empress Theodora is a remarkable woman. Unlike many royalty in her day, she actually had to work herself up the ropes to become Empress. She was the daughter of a bear trainer and she became an actress. However, it was because she was of lowly birth that she was able to emphasize with the lower social class. She made many friends who were of her social status, and when she became empress she helped them. She also helped many women in the lower social class.

Theodora was loyal to all those around her. It was her loyalty to her husband Justinian that they worked together to rule their empire. While both of them had completely different personalities and disagreed on different issues, they still had deep respect for one another. While their relationship was not based on romantic love, they still loved each other intellectually as equals. Together they helped make decisions in their empire and would often listen to each other’s viewpoints on issues.

Overall, this was a very compelling biography about Empress Theodora. It is clear that the biographer admires his subject because he chooses to highlight her accomplishments. In a man’s world, Theodora was tough and hardworking. She, not Justinian, who wanted to run away, saved her throne. I also thought that the author does a good job in portraying the politics and the social aspects of the time. This biography is very engaging and comprehensive, and I liked how the author shows us how Theodora is portrayed in popular culture. This is a good portrait to those who want to see Empress Theodora in a positive light. This biography is an excellent tribute to a powerful empress who rose from humble beginnings to become one of the most powerful women of her age.
(Note: I read an ARC copy of this book in courtesy of Netgalley.)

[Julie Dawson · Rating 4 out of 5]

David Potter’s Theodora: Actress, Empress, Saint is a mesmerizing biography of one of history’s most influential, and most wrongfully-maligned, women leaders. Much of the previous scholarship on Theodora relied on the works of her contemporaries, who were often more inspired by personal and political vendettas than truth. Potter’s research moves pass the direct works of her contemporaries and takes advantage of a great deal of new scholarship on the Byzantine Empire. The end result is a rich, detailed, and nuanced look at the Empress.

Potter work shines a light on how Theodora established her influence and used it to enact progressive reforms, particularly for women. It is under Theodora and Justinian’s reign that women are truly first seen as full citizens deserving of rights and not just the property of their fathers or husbands. The many religious and civil reforms established were revolutionary in the time period.

Like many historical works, Theodora does assume some baseline knowledge about the region from the reader. However, Potter does a fine job of articulating complex points in an approachable manner. Even if a reader only has a casual interest in ancient history, there are very few points in the book where one would be lost. Overall, Theodora is a wonderful addition to our collective knowledge of both the time period and the amazing woman who influenced it.

[Gio · Rating 3 out of 5]

Theodora is one of the most fascinating figures of ancient history, so I was very curious to find out more about her. Unfortunately, so little information about Theodora has survived to our times, it would be enough to fit only one short chapter, maybe two.

To pen this book, the author had to rely on the writings of Procopius, a man who despised Thedora and was totally biased against her, and speculation. The rest of the book is filled up with the politics of the era, the biography of other political figures of the time and any detail of every person and event that could be even remotely connected to Theodora.

As a result, rather than an autobiography of Theodora, the book is a study of the era she lived in. That's not what I had planned to read, but I am sure I would have found it more interesting had the writing not being so dense.

If you're into ancient history and want to know more both about Theodora and the era she lived in, you'd definitely find this book interesting. As for me, although I understand the reason why, I wish the author hadn't strayed so much from his subject.

[Mandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Meticulously researched and accessibly written, this comprehensive biography of Theodora and her times is impressive in its scope but curiously lifeless considering that it’s about such a fascinating woman. Perhaps this is because the author has a discursive and often meandering style and has crammed in such a huge amount of information, some of which only pertains marginally to Theodora herself. Personally I would have preferred a tighter text, concentrating on the woman rather than the history. Nevertheless, although it may well be a book for the academic or student of the period rather than the general reader, I certainly admired the book even if I found it somewhat laborious at times.

[Michele Martell · Rating 4 out of 5]

First Lady of Byzantium – Theodora: Actress, Empress, Saint

David Potter’s biography of the Empress Theodora brings to life a powerful woman previously much maligned by the writer Procopius. Theodora, famously an actress and concubine, married the emperor Justinian, and had a profound effect on the politics and laws of early Byzantium.
The author fleshes out the history of the era and allows us to see Theodora in a more modern, feminist light.
It is a wonder that people don’t know the story of Theodora in the way that we all “know” the story of Cleopatra – hopefully, books like this one help new generations see that strong & powerful women have had an impact on history.

[Christopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I found the case to recapture Theodora's reputation from undeserved slander at times a bit too trying (she really did persecute Belisarius, sorry, and to be honest, who cares if she was a bit vindictive most times?) overall it was great to see such an important and vital woman to understanding history at a pivotal era get the treatment she deserves as a primary actor in her own right in the realm of nonfiction.

[Megan · Rating 2 out of 5]

For a book yhe proports to be a biography about Theodora there is very little mention of her in it. Very disappointing.