Gabriella Twersky The Role Of Women In The Byzantine Empire Without a doubt the Byzantine Empire was a fascinating culture with many different background oriental cultures to it. In the Early Middle Ages, the Byzantine Empire flourished under the leadership of the Emperor Justin (527-565), and his co-ruler, his wife the Empress Theodora. Justinian began his political leadership under his uncle and that is when he met Theodora. Before meeting Justinian, Theodora was full of low class undertakings. Her father worked in the circus, and sometimes Theodora would perform as well and be an off stage prostitute. She was extremely smart but her background set her back. She moved to Egypt and that is where she became a Christian. Later she returned to Constantinople, met Justinian and they both fell in love with each other. Marriage was not possible for them because they were not of the same social status. Roman law did not allow a patrician to marry someone below him. Somehow Justinian convinced his uncle to get a law passed in the senate and they were happily married. Women in the Byzantine Empire did not have much of a say or position. Being a woman was hard because of all the struggles they had to deal with just because they were a female. Women could barely get any jobs and because of that a lot of women chose the wrong paths for their life just like Theodora did in the very beginning. Women spent most of their lives at home. “Keep your daughters as prisoners, confined and inconspicuous”. (Kekavmenos) In every occasion a woman was accompanied when she left her house. Whether it was to go to church, attend a festivity, call on her relations, or even visit the baths. Those were the only activities that were accepted of a woman outside her own house. It was never proper for woman to sit at the same table as a man unless they were her father, husband, or brother. Most of the time they would eat in a separate rooms just like they would spend their days in rooms apart from men. From a young age women would learn about household matters but reading and writing was limited and very few women actually had a wider learning. If a woman was middle to upper class, she was taught to read, sing, and write. Women of royalty were given the opportunity to study natural sciences and medicine. Women could have been married beginning at the young age of twelve or thirteen years old. Her parents arranged the match with the help of a matchmaker who received some type of reward. Being married at such a young age was not so bad because in Christian principles, in the Byzantine society, it assured the women’s decent existence. No matter which social class she was in, she was the mistress of the house and having children gave her more power. When it came to professional life women really did not have much of a role or decision. Those who were really poor labored outside in fields or were lucky to be employed in their family workshops. Very few educated women were doctors. Some women were prostitutes or “koines”who lived in cabarets and wine-shops. Byzantine times were particularly hard on women. Being outside was only socially acceptable if she was doing something studious and worthwhile. If a women were to be outside, her face must have been covered by a veil at all times and of course been accompanied by a man. Veils were rarely shown in byzantine artwork but it was a social standard for women. Wearing veils often represented the difference between an honest women and a prostitute. Most women of the Byzantine Empire could not be involved with politics. Women could not testify in court and it was very rare where a man was not involved that a woman could testify. Even though women had very little influence and respect in the public society, her home life easily influenced her own husband, sons, brothers, and other males that were in her life. Men were able to rise up to a political position through the military or church. For a woman to gain political power she had to be born or marry into aristocracy. A very interesting example of how women became a little important in society was by Empress Pulcheria. She was born in 399 A.D. and was the oldest daughter of Emperor Arcadius. She was a devoted Christian that moved her way into power through influence from her younger brother Theodos II. She eventually received the title of Augusta which meant Empress and that was the highest position a woman of relation to an Emperor can have. Knowing that if she were born a man she would be able to have much more power, she still did all she could, influenced lives, and was an extremely intelligent woman. At the age of sixteen she swore a vow of chastity just so she could keep her power that would be lost if she was forced into marriage. This shows that there were many different levels of women during that time period. Just because Pulcheria was born into power because of her father, she was able to live a happy and knowledgeable life. - Portrait of Pulcheria
Being a woman in the Byzantine Empire was hard and difficult for majority. Comparing women now a day to women in the Byzantine Empire is like comparing the sun and the moon. Women are free to do anything they want now a day but back then women had to follow rules and abide to them or else their life would be ended. Even though being at home was what women were created for according to men in the Byzantine Empire, some women wanted to show their intelligence and be powerful just like men were.

A portrait of women in the Byzantine Empire

Citations
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Garland, Lynda. "The Medieval Review." Web. <https://scholarworks.iu.edu/dspace/bitstream/handle/2022/4289/08.01.07.html?sequence=1>.
"Right Believing Pylcheria, Byzantine Empress." Orthodox Church in America. Web. <http://oca.org/saints/lives/2014/09/10/102566-right-believing-pulcheria-byzantine-empress>.
"Women in the Byzantine Empire." Web. <http://web.clark.edu/afisher/HIST252/Women in the Byzantine Empire.pdf>.