Well, there seems to be mixed opinions about this. Some including me saying she was a circus worker (had an act with a dancing bear IMO) other say she was a prostitute. What do you people think?

For some reason, I see a circus worker being less a less acceptable consort for an emperor than a publicly-known prostitute.

Well, there seems to be mixed opinions about this. Some including me saying she was a circus worker (had an act with a dancing bear IMO) other say she was a prostitute. What do you people think?
She was both. Her father was a circus worker and she was also a prostitute.

I voted both, because it sounded most ridiculous, and people rarely ask these kinds of questions if the answer is plain.

For the best part of 1000 years or more, the terms "Actor" and/or "Circus entertainer" may as well have meant "Prostitute".

I agree with kafka- we of modern eyes will never know- the same terms applied to so many different proffessions, and were also used as how people were reagrded in public eyes, that we cannot know.

in any case, i woudl imgaine Justinian- a man who took his religion very seriouslly, wouldnt have married a true prostitute, particuler when he, as an emperor, and noble beforehand, could litterally have any woman he so wanted- as beautiful as Byzantium could provide, and without all the ill-repute

Imagine her rise: Even if she was an entertainer and NO prostitute, even if we take in mind that prostitution and entertainment were the same in these times ;) , the rise from the circus to be the empress and co-ruler of the Byzantine Empire is awesome.

Besides Eleonor of Aquitaine, I cannot remember any women to have influenced history on that scale (Joan of Arc perhaps).

For those interested in a novel about her, I recommend Guy Gavriel Kay's cyclus "The Sarantine Mosaic". Semi-historic fantasy, but very close to real history, only changed names.

For the best part of 1000 years or more, the terms "Actor" and/or "Circus entertainer" may as well have meant "Prostitute".
good point..
I think she was both. she could have, i mean she could have been anything before she met justinian. the only thing i don't understand is how http://www.historyguide.org/images/theodora.jpg can become a prostitute... :vomit:

I think Elizabeth Taylor once played Theodora. Works much better. :)

the only thing i don't understand is how http://www.historyguide.org/images/theodora.jpg can become a prostitute... :vomit:

well it WAS night work ;)

in any case, i woudl imgaine Justinian- a man who took his religion very seriouslly, wouldnt have married a true prostitute.

Whyever not? Christianity doesn't say you can't marry former prostitutes.

But I guess the byzantine society did not really accept things like that.

Whyever not? Christianity doesn't say you can't marry former prostitutes.

The code justinanius was passed right before justinian married theodora--it legalized the marriage of ex actresses, it declared a former actress who was admitted to the patriciate would henceforth have all blemishes wiped out and was free to marry. Translation--if your emperor and you want to marry a whore, you just legalize her ;)

Besides Eleonor of Aquitaine, I cannot remember any women to have influenced history on that scale (Joan of Arc perhaps).


What about queen Victoria of England... or Elisabeth I?

A true powerful person can give a damn about the common mans stupid and mediocre notions of what is proper or not. As an emperor, Justinian picked the best company he could pick at that time, for his preferences, mand he could allow himself to do so.
A weak leader may have accepted some boring and false noble chick tossed in his direction by the court, If I lived in those times, I could do whatever I wanted, even persecuting those slandering me as an emperor. If Theodora was a good catch, I would have kept her if she had no diseases.

How romantic, especially the part with the diseases! :)

We could make a poll out of that.

Would you have married Theodora as Emperor?

- yes, of course
- yes, but only if she had no diseases
- no, not at all
- I am an Empress and not lesbian
- how about a 'privileged partnership' instead?
- I already married an radioactive monkey!

Prostitute, you say ? How vulgar.

Consider her rather a talented escort girl. Charming and cunning. With ambitions second to none. A sort of Madonna of her time... :p

Besides Eleonor of Aquitaine, I cannot remember any women to have influenced history on that scale (Joan of Arc perhaps)
Elissar (Dido) of Tyre. Founder of Carthage.

Well, this is certainly a different kind of poll!

I remember a remark made by an art history professor of mine while we were examining the mosaics inside the church of St. Vitale in Ravenna. Quite an amusing statement coming from a trained professional in the staid field of art history. I'd pass it along ... but my posting privileges would probably be permanently revoked for the extreme off-color content. ;)

True, most people would be surprised how many whores and assassins are depict medieval paintings or mosaics, whether in churches or not.
But the symbols for that profession are easily to spot:
A Crossbow? Banned later, but always considered not honorable; if someone is depicted with it in a church, well, it must have been a professional assassin for the church.
A key on the waistbelt? 'Open' sleeves (hard to discribe, medieval clothing usually had some kind of bands here)? Comfort women.

More influential women:

Queen Sheba/Saba of Yemen.
Queen Nefertiti of Egypt
Queen Cleopatra of Egypt
The mothers of some of the 18th century ottoman sultans.

Marozia makes the mark too.

Marozia? Who was that?

http://womenshistory.about.com/library/bio/blbio_marozia.htm

This Marozia. But well, if she was really important, I dunno, up to you to decide.

http://womenshistory.about.com/library/bio/blbio_marozia.htm

This Marozia. But well, if she was really important, I dunno, up to you to decide.

That article's grossly flawed. It suggests she owes her position to her lovers, but in fact she wielded immense power in her own right through the Theophylact family.

Another powerful historical woman is Johanna the Pope... if you believe that myth ofcourse

..which, of course, you shouldn't, because it's completely fictional.

But it does explain some fun assets/rituals of the papacy (such as the chair with a hole in it). But I agree that it is highly dubious.