136. Empress Theodora: From the Brothel to the Throne

Empire

Jack Davenport

History

4.6 • 4.1K Ratings

🗓️ 1 April 2024

⏱️ 40 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Placed by her mother into a brothel when she was just a child, Theodora was born into the most brutal of worlds. It was a Constantinople riven with division, whether due to theology or circus factions it was always ready to boil over. As befitting a Christian saint, Theodora managed to rise above all of this; she escaped working in a brothel, became the model of a reformed woman, and married the future emperor, Justinian. Then, in 527, when he was declared Emperor, Theodora was brought forward and revealed as Empress of the Roman Empire. Listen as William and Anita are once again joined by Peter Sarris to discuss this tale of star-crossed lovers and how it facilitated the improbable rise of Theodora. For bonus episodes, ad-free listening, reading lists, book discounts, a weekly newsletter, and a chat community. Sign up at https://empirepod.supportingcast.fm/ Twitter: @Empirepoduk Email: [email protected] Goalhangerpodcasts.com Assistant Producer: Anouska Lewis Producer: Callum Hill Exec Producer: Neil Fearn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Well, hello there Empire listeners. Now before you get to today's episode, William and I have a very exciting special announcement, don't we?
0:15.4	We do, we do, we do.
0:17.0	This summer we are returning to the stage for a live show.
0:21.2	On Monday, the 8th of of July we will be in London at the Barbican no less.
0:26.4	If you didn't come last year you will have missed William Dower and Paul breaking every rule that the venue
0:31.2	had and climbing into the pulpit to deliver his sermon from the mouth?
0:35.6	Yes, that was fun. I like that.
0:37.3	Did you see the blanched faces of everybody around the hall?
0:42.0	I thought it was a shame not to use a bull bit if it was there.
0:44.0	Oh my God, what is he doing?
0:46.0	Honestly, it was basically our podcast made flesh
0:49.0	where you're out of control man, out of control.
0:52.0	Do come, to please come we have so many things that we want to
0:57.2	share with you it's going to be bigger it's going to be better we're not going to
1:00.0	spoil the surprise as to what the topics are going to be partly because we don't know yet but it's going to spoil the surprise as to what the topics are going to be partly because we don't
1:03.2	know yet.
1:04.2	But it's going to be history.
1:06.2	It's going to be history related.
1:07.8	And it's going to be all the history that you didn't learn in school.
1:10.8	Yes, with a few laughs along the way we hope so look should I give you the
1:13.4	details if you got your pen have you got your pencil ready have you got your paper
1:16.8	in front of you because this is when the show is the evening of Monday the 8th of July
	...

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