The Amazing Rise of Theodora, the Courtesan Who Became the Wife of the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I

In the past, he inspired feature films and haunted theaters portrayed by Sarah Bernhardt, letting the tragic words that playwright Victoria Sardou gave him roll in his mouth. But time has passed, and this whore from the colonies, the emperor’s wife, herself the heiress of a small soldier from the Balkans, who succeeded in a coup d’état, has been forgotten. Who can remember his desire to free girls from the clutches of pimps? Who can admire the change in etiquette which he enforced by forcing civil servants to greet him with a kiss on the tip of their shoe? Of course, no one. But we will at least pay tribute to her beauty.

“Little Whore Out of Stream”

The best source we have for Theodora is Procopius of Caesarea, a rhetorician close to the court. He wrote commissioned works in which he sings the praises of the imperial couple, then a second in which he gives his real opinion. In fact, he hates the empress, a small-time whore who delights in humiliating the Byzantine aristocracy. His hatred is a consequence of his fascination. So he spends a long time describing Theodora’s beauty, which he cannot criticize without sounding like a liar because it is so proverbial. He describes her as a small, slender woman, with a pale but slightly matte face, very similar to the particularly beautiful face of women on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean. The oval of her face is perfect, her brown hair, delicate nose, wonderfully shaped mouth and dark eyes of frightening intensity. Teodora is not only beautiful. His charisma and sharp wit add to the splendor of his features.

Access to electricity

The rise to power transformed her provocative charm into hieratic beauty. According to Procopius of Caesarea, he then spent too much time tending to his body, but less than he would have liked, he adds. She spends her mornings at the spa, which includes waxing, massages and softening treatments. Then he eats lunch and sleeps, which has no effect on the length of his nights. It can be assumed that all this care, including sleep, which we know to be precious today, made it possible to maintain its beauty. But the description of Theodora’s “routine” is intended to show the modern reader of the empress that she had a soft nature, like all women, according to the prejudices of ancient medicine, and that this softness is increased by bathing and sleeping. It’s impossible to manage properly when you live between the bathroom and your bed.

Procopius exaggerates to discredit the empress. However, her beauty captivates him. He was already in his forties when she met him at the palace. She died of illness at the age of 50 without her beauty fading. A mosaic portrait of his remains in the Basilica of Saint Vitale, Ravenna, Italy. The large marble and mosaic tiles used then do not do justice to her face. Better yet, read Procopius of Caesarea and let yourself be moved by Theodora’s stunning beauty and charisma.

Virginia Giraud has a doctorate in history. Discover other historical figures on the podcast with Virginia Giraud At the heart of the story