Theodora

Date

c. 547

Description

Creator of the image: Unknown
Date of the image creation: c. 547
Medium of the image: Mosaic
Person depicted: Theodora

The image reproduced here depicts Theodora (c. 500–548), the then empress of the Byzantine Empire. She was the wife and co-regent with Emperor Justinian I, during their powerful reign. One of her activities included the quashing of the Nika riots (532), the most violent upheaval in Constantinople’s history. Much of the city was burnt and tens of thousands died. Theodora is said to have convinced Justinian to stay and fight to the death, rather than flee. Their triumph ensured an unchallenged reign, securing the couple’s place in history. Along with her husband, Theodora became a saint in the Eastern Orthodox Church, and is celebrated annually on the 14th of November. The mosaic is in the Basilica of San Vitale, an important Byzantine church built in 547CE in Ravenna, Italy, and now on UNESCO’s World Heritage List.

Quotes

No quotes found.