Beyond Deviant : Theodora as the Other in Byzantine Imperial Historiography

• Early Byzantine historiography offers two contradictory portrayals of Theodora  (Crowned Empress 427-458 CE).  Whereas in Procopius’ Wars of Justinian and Buildings she appears to be a courageous and influential empress, in his later work, Secret History, she is represented as a deviant female figure. Procopius’ narrative of Theodora is overall disapproving of her character and actions. He discusses her early years as a ‘shameless’ performer and a prostitute, brought up in the social margins of Constantinople; Similarly, during her reign, he describes her exercise of power over the palace and her subjects as cruel and violent, driven by premeditated self-interest.  In this chapter, I aim to discuss Theodora’s portrayal by Procopius as a sociologically deviant female; it is a systematic study of what the author considers to be social norm violations that are subject to social sanction. I will specifically concentrate on Theodora’s depiction as a sexually deviant young performer. I will then focus upon actions of cruelty and violence in her political and social career as an Empress.  I will show how the paradigm of Theodora, in Procopius’ Secret History, can be read as both making visible coercive social, political and religious power structures, as well as, disenfranchising femininity in early Byzantium.

Subject headings

HUMANIORA  -- Historia och arkeologi -- Historia (hsv//swe)

HUMANITIES  -- History and Archaeology -- History (hsv//eng)

HUMANIORA  -- Annan humaniora -- Kulturstudier (hsv//swe)

HUMANITIES  -- Other Humanities -- Cultural Studies (hsv//eng)

HUMANIORA  -- Annan humaniora -- Antikvetenskap (hsv//swe)

HUMANITIES  -- Other Humanities -- Classical Archaeology and Ancient History (hsv//eng)

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Sociologi (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Sociology (hsv//eng)

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Annan samhällsvetenskap -- Genusstudier (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Other Social Sciences -- Gender Studies (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Theodora

Sexuality

Violence

Historiography

Gender Studies

gender studies

genusvetenskap

företagsekonomi

Business Studies

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

kap (subject category)