the empress in late antiquity and the roman origins of the imperial feminine

108 Pages·2011·10.42 MB·English

THE EMPRESS IN LATE ANTIQUITY
AND THE
ROMAN ORIGINS OF THE IMPERIAL FEMININE

by

Carina Marie Nilsson
Bachelor of Arts, Simon Fraser University 2007
Bachelor of Fine Arts, Simon Fraser University, 2007

THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF
THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF

MASTER OF ARTS

In the
Department of History

© Carina Marie Nilsson 2011
SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY
Spring 2011

All rights reserved. However, in accordance with the Copyright Act of Canada,
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APPROVAL
Name: Carina Marie Nilsson
Degree: Master ofArts
Title ofThesis: The Empress in Late Antiquity and the Roman Origins of
the Imperial Feminine
Examining Committee:
Chair: Dr. Mary-Ellen Kelm
Associate Professor, Department of History
Dr. Dimitri Krallis
Senior Supervisor
Assistant Professor, Department of History
Dr. Willeen Keough
Supervisor
Associate Professor, Department of History
Dr. Mary Lynn Stewart
External Examiner
Professor, Department of Gender, Sexuality, and Women's
Studies
Date Defended/Approved: January 7,2011
ii
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Last revision: Spring 09
ABSTRACT
This thesis looks at the position of the empress in Late Antique Byzantium,
and seeks to trace the processes by which imperial women came to wield power,
and actively participate in governance. In this context, Julio-Claudian and early
imperial constructions of the imperial feminine help highlight the continuities and
changes that shaped the political role of empresses. By using gender as an
analytical tool this thesis explores the dynamic nature of the relationship between
empress and emperor, and assists in the diachronic analysis of the various ways
in which imperial power was articulated in literary and visual representations.

Keywords: Byzantium; Empress; Emperor; Gender; Feminine; Masculine;
Imperial; Numismatics; Statuary; Monument; Art; Literature; Rhetoric.
iii
DEDICATION
This work is dedicated to my family for all of their support, love, and
endless patience. To my mother and father, Rosina and Jan Nilsson, who
instilled in me the fascination and curiosity for a good story, and who trekked
across the ocean countless times to care for my little ones, giving me the
opportunity to research and complete this thesis. To Cyrus Thiedeke, for your
confidence and encouragement during many a late night and frantic moment. To
my two little ones, Finn Barbro Thiedeke and Augustus Cyrus Thiedeke, the best
motivators of all.

iv
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
My utmost gratitude to Professor Dimitri Krallis for his direction and
guidance throughout the completion of this thesis. My sincerest thanks for
introducing me to Byzantine history years ago, and continuing the discussion
when, as a graduate student, I was the lone Byzantinist amongst a sea of
modern historians.
I am indebted to Professor Willeen Keough’s conviction, kindness, and
sharp insight, which has opened up my understanding of history, and made this
thesis the stronger for it.
I also must acknowledge my close friend and colleague, Julia Maureen
Smith, and her constant encouragement and cheer. Sometimes it was all I
needed to press on.

v
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Approval.....................................................................................................................................ii

Abstract.....................................................................................................................................iii

Dedication.................................................................................................................................iv

Acknowledgements.................................................................................................................v

Table
 of
 Contents....................................................................................................................vi

List
 of
 Figures.........................................................................................................................vii

List
 of
 Tables..........................................................................................................................viii

Figures..................................................................................................................................................1

Tables:
 Roman
 Imperial
 Dynasty
 Family
 Trees......................................................................5

Introduction............................................................................................................................11

1.1
  Survey
 of
 Literature...........................................................................................................19

Chapter
 One:
 From
 Roman
 Republic
 to
 Dynastic
 Monarchy,
 the
 Rise
 of
 the

Imperial
 family......................................................................................................................37

Chapter
 two:
 Continuity
 and
 Innovation
 in
 Byzantine
 Imperial

Representations....................................................................................................................59

Conclusion...............................................................................................................................83

BIBLIOGRAPHY......................................................................................................................85

vi
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1: Detail of Southern Frieze, Ara Pacis Augustau, 13 BC.

Figure 2: Marlborough cameo; turquoise cameo depicting Livia and Drusus,
9 BC.

Figure 3: Arsinoe II and Ptolemy II, Alexandria mint, 265 – 260 BC.

Figure 4: Adoption and sacrifice reliefs, Ephesus Parthenon Monument, ca. AD
170.

Figure 5: Trier Ivory, dated late 6th to 7th century.

Figure 6: Gold coin, Pulcheria obverse, Victory reverse; struck AD 420-422
Constantinople mint.

Figure 7: Ivory Panel, Empress Sophia; early 5th century.
vii
LIST OF TABLES
Table 1 – Julio-Claudian Dynasty Family Tree
Table 2 – Nerva-Antonine Dynasty Family Tree
Table 3 – Severan Dynasty Family Tree
Table 4 – Tetrarchy and Constantinian Dynasty Family Tree
Table 5 – Theodosian Dynasty Family Tree
Table 6 – Justinian Dynasty Family Tree

* All Family Trees © 1998 R. Scott Moore

viii
Figures

Figure 1 Detail of Southern Frieze Ara Pacis Augustae (Altar of Augustan Peace); © 2006
Mary Ann Sullivan

Figure 2 Marlborough Cameo: Livia with the Bust of Divius Augustus (perhaps Drusus),
Turquoise Cameo. 9 BC. ARTstor [online]. New York: New York. [cited 22
August 2010]. Available from World Wide Web: (http://www.artstor.org)
1