Empress Zoe L X / M XI
Ζωή (Zoe 1)
(Unspecified)
(null)
Narrative
(323)
Authorship
(null)
Death
(14)
Konstantinos 9
, full of enthusiasm, filled the palace with the cry that the Lord had wrought a miracle at her tomb, so that all might know that her soul was numbered among the angels
ἵνα ἅπαντες γνοῖεν ὅτι ἀγγέλοις ἡ ἐκείνης ψυχὴ συνηρίθμηται. Psellos: Chronographia VI 183.9-13
Died before (her husband)
Konstantinos 9
ἡ Ζωὴ γὰρ ἤδη προκατέστρεψε τὴν ζῳήν. Skylitzes 478.89-90
Had already died by the time her sister
Theodora 1
took power after the death of
Konstantinos 9
Monomachos (in early 1055)
προαπεβίω γὰρ ἡ ταύτης αὐταδέλφη. Attaleiates: History 51.20-21 / 39.2
Had died by the time the emperor (
Konstantinos 9
) died
προκατέλυσε τὸν βίον. Glykas 599.5-6
Her desire for nourishment faded, the lack of nourishment increased and kindled a fatal fever in her; the wasting of her body, its fading as it were, was a preliminary sign that death was near
τὸ ἐνδεὲς προσθήκην λαμβάνον πυρετὸν αὐτῇ ἀνάπτει ἐπιθανάτιον. Psellos: Chronographia VI 160.3-6
One of the little silver-plated columns around her tomb took in moisture in a part where the precious metal had split and in accordance with natural laws produced a little mushroom
βραχύν τινα μύκητα κατὰ τοὺς φυσικοὺς ἀναδόντος λόγους. Psellos: Chronographia VI 183.6-9
She died
. Anonymus Barensis 151
She died, having reigned with three imperial husbands,
Romanos 3
,
Michael 4
and
Konstantinos 9
, a total of 22 years; after her death Konstantinos reigned on with (?) Theodora, for 9 years [5 years for Konstantinos,
Theodora 107
years more]
. Lupus protospatharius 59.9-13
She immediately thought of the prisons, remitted debts, released from misfortune those condemned, opened the imperial treasuries and let the gold in them flow out like a river
... ποιεῖται δὲ χρεῶν ἀποκοπὰς, ἀπολύει δὲ συμφορῶν τοὺς ἐνοχους αὐταῖς. Psellos: Chronographia VI 160.7-10
The imperial gold was dispersed unsparingly, intemperately; but after a short struggle with death and a slight change in her appearance she relinquished this life, after living for seventy-two years
ἡ δὲ βραχύ τι δυσθανατήσασα καὶ τὴν ὄψιν ἀλλοιωθεῖσα μετατίθησι τὴν ἐνταῦθα ζωήν. Psellos: Chronographia VI 160.10-13
When her appointed time was complete and she was about to die, her physical constitution showed small preliminary signs
βραχύ τι κατ᾿ αὐτῆς ἡ τῆς φύσεως ἕξις προοιμιάζεται. Psellos: Chronographia VI 160.1-3
When in the depth of old age (for her existence had stretched out more than seventy years) dissolved her life,
Konstantinos 9
did not mourn like a man, but indeed like a boy
Zonaras 17.28.1
When she died at a great age, grief for her persisted deep in
Konstantinos 9
's heart: not only did he mourn her, pour libations of tears on her tomb and propitiate heaven on her behalf, but he wished to accord her God-like honour
τῆς γοῦν βασιλίδος Ζωῆς ἀπεληλυθυίας τῶν τῇδε ἐν γήραϊ μακρῷ. Psellos: Chronographia VI 183.1-6
When she was dead
Konstantinos 9
raised up the flame of love and rekindled his desire; he all but fitted out a bridal chamber for himself and led
Anonyma 210
there
ἐπεὶ δὲ ἐτεθνήκει. Psellos: Chronographia VI 152.3-5
Description
(122)
Romanos 3
despised her, refrained from intercourse with her and was altogether averse to associating with her
καταπεφρονήκει μὲν τῆς βασιλίδος Ζωῆς, ἀπείχετό τε τῆς πρὸς αὐτὴν μίξεως καὶ πάντη ἀποστρόφως πρὸς τὴν κοινωνίαν εἶχεν. Psellos: Chronographia III 17.6-8
Anonymus 7001
was her family servant
θεράπων αὐτῆς πατρῷος. Psellos: Chronographia III 20.12
Cause (with
Michael 4
) of the death of
Romanos 3
ἡ τοῦ θανεῖν αἰτία ἐκεῖνοι γεγόνασιν. Psellos: Chronographia 26.9
... she was without help, bewitched by the sorcery (of
Anonymi 6008
and
Ioannes 68
), or rather tricked and captivated by their wiles and trickery and converted to their wishes
ἐν ἐρημίᾳ τε οὖσαν τοῦ βοηθήσοντος καὶ τοῖς γοητεύμασιν ἐκείνων καταθελχθεῖσαν, ἢ μᾶλλον ταῖς μηχαναῖς τούτων καὶ τοῖς κλέμμασι κλαπεῖσαν καὶ συνειληθεῖσαν καὶ πρὸς τὰ ἐκείνων μετατεθεῖσαν θελήματα;. Psellos: Chronographia V 4.12-16
Mother and empress (to
Michael 5
)
τῆς μητρὸς καὶ δεσπότιδος. Psellos: Chronographia 41.11-12
She tipped the scales towards whatever she wanted, her hand was ready with equal passion for both things, that is death and life; in this respect she was like the waves of the sea, which raise up a ship and plunge it down again
ἐπιρρεππὴς ἦν πρὸς ὅ τι καὶ βουληθείη, καὶ τὴν χεῖρα πρὸς ἄμφω ἡτοίμαστο κατὰ τὸ ἴσον ὀξύτατα, θάνατον φημὶ καὶ ζωήν, καὶ ἐῴκει ... κύμασι θαλαττίοις καὶ ἀπαιωροῦσι τὴν ναῦν καὶ αὖθις βαπτίζουσιν. Psellos: Chronographia 4.7-11
She had a passion for gold, not for having it or storing it away but so as to divert its stream to others, and also for Indian spices, especially those woods that retained their natural moisture, dwarf olive and white bay
ἡ μὲν χρυσίου πολλοῦ ἥττητο, οὐχ ἵνα ἔχοι ἢ θησαυρίζοι, ἀλλ᾿ ἵνα εἰς ἄλλους μετοχετεύοι τὸ ῥεῦμα, καὶ τούτων δὴ τῶν ἰνδικωτάτων ἀρωμάτων ... μάλιστα τῶν ἔτι τὴν φυσικὴν λιβάδα μὴ ἀπολιπόντων ξύλων. Psellos: Chronographia 62.1-6
Having reached this point in his account of her,
Michael 61
wil return again to
Maria 64
and
Konstantinos 9
ἐς τοσοῦτον γοῦν τῇ βασιλίδι ἀγαγόντες τὸν λόγον. ἐπανακαλέσωμεν αὖθις εἰς τὴν σεβαστὴν καὶ τὸν αὐτοκράτορα. Psellos: Chronographia 68.1-3
Although she was past seventy, she had no wrinkle in her face, but bloomed as she had in her youthful beauty; her hands were not without tremors, she had spasms and her back had become bent
ἑβδομηκοστὸν δὲ ἤδη ὑπερβᾶσα ἔτος ... ῥυτίδα μὲν οὐκ εἶχεν ἐπὶ τοῦ προσώπου, ἀλλ ᾿ ἤνθει ὡς ἐπὶ νέῳ τῷ κάλλει· τῶν δέ γε χειρῶν οὐκ ἀτρόμως εἶχεν, ἀλλ ᾿ ἐκεκλόνητο, συνεκεκύφει δὲ καὶ τὸ νῶτον. Psellos: Chronographia 168.7-11
Theodora 1
knew that no being is so forgetful as a man who has been allocated power by another, and indeed that he is most ungracious to his greatest benefactor, having confirmation from her own case, his -her predecessor - and
Zoe 1
οὐδὲν οὕτως ἐπιλησμονέστατον χρῆμα ὡς ἄνθρωπος ὑφ ᾿ ἑτέρου βασιλεύειν λαχὼν, μᾶλλον δὲ περὶ τὸν εὐεργετικώτατον ἀγνωμονέστατος, καὶ τοῦτο ... καὶ τῶν περὶ τὴν ἀδελφὴν παραδειγμάτωνεἰς βεβαίωσιν δόξης ἔχουσα. Psellos: Chronographia 1.6-10
She owned an impossibly pampered cat named Mechlempe, whom she fed daily on a variety of exotic foods on golden utensils; she held it in public and reported on its behaviour, at which the embarrassed audience could not laugh
Μεχλεμπέ. Tzetzes, Historiai V 524-540
Ioannes 68
feared for the realm, lest the emperor
Michael 4
might suddenly die and it should come to her as its heir
Zonaras 17.16.7
Was open-handed and regal in conduct
τὴν χεῖρά τε ἀφειδὴς καὶ βασιλικὴ τὴν προαίρεσιν. Zonaras 17.20.13
Romanos 4
knew that she was a great lover, as it were bursting with passion, and to prevent her being shared among many, did not resent her relationship with one man (
Michael 4
); while pretending not to see he satisfied her passion
... μάλα ἐρῶσαν ὥσπερ δὴ καὶ σφριγῶσαν περὶ τὸ πάθος, καί, ἵνα μὴ πρὸς πολλοὺς διαχέοιτο, οὐ μάλα τὴν πρὸς ἕνα ... ἐδυσχέραινεν ὁμιλίαν, ἀλλὰ σχηματιζόμενος παρορᾶν ἀπεπλήρου τὸ πάθος τῇ βασιλίδι. Psellos: Chronographia III 23.8-11
Michael 61
will speak at some length about her, while
Konstantinos 9
is sleeping with
Maria 64
λεγέσθω γάρ τι πλέον περὶ αὐτῆς, ἕως ἂν τῇ σεβαστῇ αὐτοκράτωρ συναναπαύηται. Psellos: Chronographia 65.1-3
She had an unstinting hand, such as to drain dry in a day a sea full of gold dust
ἡ μὲν ἀφειδὴς ἦν τὴν χεῖρα καὶ οἵα θάλατταν αὐθημερὸν ἐξαντλῆσαι ψηγμάτων χρυσῶν περιπλήθουσαν. Psellos: Chronographia 4.13-15
Konstantinos 9
called it a service to share in her pleasures and those of
Theodora 1
and he wanted to oppose them in nothing but bring them all things pleasant
τὴν γοῦν κοινωνίαν τῶν ἀπολαύσεων θεραπείαν ἐκεῖνος ὠνόμαζε, καὶ ἐβούλετο μὲν οὐδὲν ἐκείναις ἐναντιώσασθαι, ἀλλὰ πᾶσαν ταύταις εἰσάγειν γλυκυθυμίαν. Psellos: Chronographia 49.3-6
Theodora 1
, as she was enjoying what she wanted, was less concerned than she (about
Maria 64
)
ἡ ἀδελφὴ δὲ, ἀπολαύουσα ὦν ἐβούλετο, τῆς ἀδελφῆς ἐφρόντιζεν ἔλαττον. Psellos: Chronographia 62.12-13
She abstained totally from women's work, never busying her hands with the spindle nor applying herself to weaving nor anything else; she even scorned royal ornaments, if not in her prime certainly in old age she abandoned any will to please
ἐκείνη γυναικείων μὲν παντάπασιν ἔργων ἀπείχετο, ...· κατωλιγώρει δὲ καὶ βασιλείων καλλωπισμῶν, εἰ μὲν καὶ ἐν ὥρᾳ τῆς ἀκμῆς οὐκ οἶδα, παρηκμακυῖα δ ᾿οὖν τὸ φιλότιμον ἅπαν κατέλυσεν. Psellos: Chronographia 64.1-6
If she and
Theodora 1
were inside the rooms allotted them, with one putting her seal on a stream of gold, the other cleaning out the bed of the stream, this replaced all pleasure for them
εἰ δὲ ἔνδον εἶεν τῶν ἀποτετμημένων αὐταῖς οἰκημάτων, καὶ ἡ μὲν τὸ χρυσοῦν ῥεῦμα ἐπισφραγίζοι, ἡ δὲ τὴν ὁδὸν διακαθαίροι τῷ ῥεύματι, τοῦτο αὐταῖς ἀντὶ πάσης ἀπολαύσεως ἦν. Psellos: Chronographia 64.23-6
As those who are united to God through contemplation or go further and, truly inspired, cling only to the object of their perfect desire and hang upon it, so the warmest reverence for God truly united her with the first and purest light
... ἀκριβῶς ἐνθεάσαντες, τοῦ τελείου μόνον ἐφετοῦ ἔχονται, κἀκεῖθεν ᾐώρηνται, οὕτω δὴ καὶ ταύτην τὸ περὶ τὸ θεῖον θερμότατον σέβας τῷ πρώτῳ καὶ ἀκραιφνεστάτῳ φωτὶ ἀκριβῶς ... συνεκέρασεν. Psellos: Chronographia 65.5-10
She completely neglected bodily adornments and did not wear gold-tissued robes, nor diadems or ornaments about her neck; but she did not dress coarsely, but covered her body in light clothing
τῶν δέ γε περὶ τὸ σῶμα καλλωπισμῶν ἠμέλει παντάπασι, καὶ οὔτε χρυσοπάστῳ ἐχρῆτο στολῃ῀ οὔτε ταινίαις, ἢ κόσμοις περιδεραίοις, ἀλλ ᾿ οὐδὲ φορτικῶς ἠμφίεστο, ἀλλ ᾿ ἐλαφρᾷ τῇ στολῇ τὸ σῶμα περιεκάλυπτε. Psellos: Chronographia 168.11-14
Reigned for 4 months together with
Michael 5
ἡ Ζωὴ σὺν τῷ Μιχαὴλ τῷ καλαφάτῃ μῆνας δ ´. Glykas 459
Was called the heir (of her father's throne) and their mother by the populace in the forum of Constantine
κληρονόμον καὶ μητέρα ἡμῶν. Glykas 591.6
Reigned together with
Michael 4
for 7 years
Κρατεῖ δὲ ὁ Μιχαὴλ σὺν τῇ Ζωῇ ἔτη ζ ´. Glykas 585.21
(When she married
Romanos 3
),
Zoe 1
was was fifty and past her prime, her womb without moisture for reception of semen
ἡ βασιλὶς ᾗ συνῴκιστο πεντηκοντοῦτις ἦν καὶ ὑπέρακμος καὶ ἄνικμος τὴν νηδὺν πρὸς σπερμάτων ὑποδοχὴν . Zonaras 17.13.2
She had relinquished envy now as she was past her prime and was no longer enraged with
Maria 64
, nor was she quick to anger with the passion of jealousy, which had dissipated with time
... τὸ ζηλότυπον ἤδη διὰ τὴν τῆς ἡλικίας παρακμὴν καταλύσασα, οὐκ ἔτι πρὸς αὐτὴν ἐμηνία, οὐδὲ δυσόργως εἶχε τὸ πάθος τῆς βασκανίας, ὑποσυληθεῖσα τῷ χρόνῳ. Psellos: Chronographia 62.9-12
Truly in love (with
Michael 4
) ... past her prime
ὡς ἀληθῶς ἐρῶσα ... ταύτης παρηκμακυίας. Psellos: Chronographia 19.20-1
When captivated by love for
Michael 4
, her soul was ravaged by fire, and the sight of his beauty each day gradually inflamed the fire
τούτου τῷ ἔρωτι ἁλοῦσα ἡ βασιλὶς ἐπυρπολεῖτο τὴν ψυχὴν καὶ τὸ πῦρ τὸ ἐκείνου κάλλος καθ ᾿ ἑκάστην ὁρώμενον ὑπανέφλεγε. Zonaras 17.13.10
But then, not enduring to extend the pretence for long,
Michael 4
changed his ways and grew suspicious of
Zoe 1
εἶτα οὐκ εἰς μακρὸν ἐκτεῖναι τὴν προσποίησιν ἀναχόμενος μεθαρμόττεται καὶ ὑποπτεύει αὐτὴν. Zonaras 17.14.9
Did not have the courage to oppose the wishes of
Ioannes 68
and
Michael 4
, and was in any case placid and amenable in opinion
ἡ δὲ μήτ ᾿ ἀντειπεῖν θαρροῦσα τοῖς ἐκείνων θελήμασι καὶ ἄλλως εὔκολος οὖσα καὶ τὴν γνώμην εὐάγωγος. Zonaras 17.16.10
Theodora 1
was less beautiful than she
τὴν δὲ ὥραν ἐλάττων τῆς ἀδελφῆς. Psellos: Chronographia II 5.11-12
Romanos 3
provoked her to hatred, both because the imperial line, in her person, was being disdained, but especially because of her desire for intercourse, which was not due to her age, but to the soft life in the palace
τὴν δὲ ἀνηρέθιζε μὲν πρὸς μῖσος καὶ τὸ βασίλειον γένος τοσοῦτον ἐπ’ ἐκείνῃ καταφρονούμενον, μάλιστα δὲ ἡ περὶ τὴν μῖξιν ἐπιθυμία, ἣν εἰ καὶ διὰ τὴν ἡλικίαν εἶχεν, ἀλλὰ διά γε τὴν ἐν βασιλείοις τρυφήν. Psellos: Chronographia III 17.8-11
According to
Anonymus 7002
,
Romanos 3
wished to be persuaded that she was not erotically attached to
Michael 4
ὁ βασιλεὺς ἐβούλετο μὲν ὡσανεὶ πεπεῖσθαι μὴ ἔχειν τὴν βασιλίδα ἐρωτικῶς πρὸς τὸν Μιχαὴλ. Psellos: Chronographia 23.6-7
By another account,
Romanos 3
was tolerant of her erotic notion or possession, but Pulcheria (101) and all who at that time happened to be party to
Poulcheria 101
's secrets were enraged
ὁ μὲν βασιλεὺς εὔκολος πρὸς τὴν ἐρωτικὴν ὑπόληψιν ἢ κατάληψιν ἦν, ἐμεμήνει δὲ ἣ τε ἀδελφὴ Πουλχερία καὶ ὅσοι τηνικαῦτα κοινωνοὶ τῶν ἀπορρήτων ἐκείνῃ ὄντες ἐτύγχανον. Psellos: Chronographia 23.11-15
Mother and empress
τὴν μητέρα καὶ βασιλίδα. Psellos: Chronographia 23.7
Michael 5
was enraged with her
ἐλύττα κατὰ τῆς βασιλίδος. Psellos: Chronographia IV 28.19
... her easily-won soul ... mother and sovereign (to
Michael 5
)
τὴν εὐάλωτον ἐκείνης ... ψυχὴν ... τῇ μητρὶ καὶ δεσπότιδι. Psellos: Chronographia V 4.2-4
For a time
Michael 5
was humble: "the empress" ... "my mistress" ... "as I am her slave" ... "whatever decision she makes"
ἡ βασιλίς ... ἡ ἐμὴ δεσπότις ... ὡς ἐώνημαι ταύτῃ ... ἣν ἄν θεῖτο ψῆφον. Psellos: Chronographia V 5.9-10
Empress and mother of
Michael 5
contrary to propriety and reason
βασιλίδι καὶ παρὰ τὸν προσήκοντα λόγον ἐκείνου μητρι. Psellos: Chronographia 16.11-12
The imperial patrimony came down to her from the fifth generation
ἐκ γὰρ πενταγονίας ὁ βασίλειος αὐτῇ κλῆρος κατήγετο. Psellos: Chronographia 22.6-7
(She said) she resembled
Basileios 2
ὅτι σοι καὶ τὴν θέαν εἶχον παρόμοιον. Psellos: Chronographia V 22.13
She who alone is noble in spirit and physically lovely, she who alone of all women is free, sovereign over her whole family, who most lawfully holds the lot of empire [cry of women supporting her]
ἡ μόνη καὶ τὴν ψυχὴν εὐγενὴς, καὶ τὴν μορφὴν εὐειδής ... ἠ μόνη τῶν πασῶν ἐλεύθερα, ἡ τοῦ ξύμπαντος γένους δεσπότις, ἡ τὸν κλῆρον τῆς βασιλείας ἐννομώτατα ἔχουσα. Psellos: Chronographia 26.9-12
Her father (
Konstantinos 8
) was emperor, and his father (
Romanos 2
), and again his father (
Konstantinos 13
) [cry of women supporting her]
ἧς καὶ ὁ πατὴρ βασιλεὺς καὶ ὁ ἐκεῖνον φὺς καὶ ὁ τοῦτον αὖθις ἀποτεκών. Psellos: Chronographia 26.12-13
Well born
τῆς εὐγενοῦς. Psellos: Chronographia 26.14
Envy divided her and
Theodora 1
, with Zoe in a greater and Theodora in a lesser position, but nevertheless Theodora retained an outward appearance of majesty
φθόνος τὰς ἀδελφὰς διελών, τὴν μὲν ἐν μείζονι, τὴν δ᾽ ἐν ἐλάττονι μέν, σεμνοτέρῳ δὲ ὅμως κατέσχε προσχήματι. Psellos: Chronographia 34.18-20
Theodora 1
was contented with the decision (to exile her) and upset neither by her change of dress nor her separation from
Zoe 1
ἔστεργεν οὖν ἡ Θεοδώρα τὰ δόξαντα καὶ οὔτε τὴν μεταμφίασιν ἐδυσχέραινεν οὔτε τὸ πρὸς τὴν ἀδελφὴν ἀκοινώνητον. Psellos: Chronographia 35.1-3
Older (than
Theodora 1
)
διὰ τὴν πρεσβυγένειαν� ἡ τὴν ἡλικίαν πρεσβεύουσα ἀδελφὴ. Psellos: Chronographia 51.2-3; 51.6
In
Michael 61
's opinion, neither she nor
Theodora 1
had a mind suited for rule: they did not know how to administer nor use solid arguments on politics, often mixing the trivialities of the women's quarters with serious imperial matters
... οὔτε γὰρ οἰκονομεῖν ᾔδεσαν οὔτε στερροτέροις λογισμοῖς χρῆσθαι περὶ τὰ πράγματα, τὰ πλεῖστα δὲ τὰ τῆς γυναικωνίτιδος παίγνια τοῖς βασιλικοῖς κατεκίρνων σπουδάσμασι. Psellos: Chronographia 5.1-3
The trait today praised by many, that she was glad to give to many unsparingly over long time, gave rise to praise in those who received because they did well, but was the prime cause of the utter ruin and final destruction of Roman fortune
πολλοῖς καὶ ἐπὶ πολλοῖς χρόνοις ἀφθόνως διδοῦσα ἐξήρκεσε, τοῖς μὲν εἰληφόσιν ... τὸ δὲ τὰ πάντα διαλυμηνάμενον καὶ τὴν �Ρωμαίων τύχην εἰς τὸ ὕστατον καθελὸν, οὐδὲν ἄλλο ἢ τοῦτο πρωταίτιον γέγονεν. Psellos: Chronographia 5.6-12
Her difference from
Theodora 1
in appearance was even greater than that in character: she was naturally fuller-figured, but she did not rise tall in stature; her eyes were large, divided by imposing brows
... ἡ μὲν γὰρ τῷ χρόνῳ πρεσβεύουσα περιπληθεστέρα τὴν φύσιν ἐτύγχανεν οὖσα, καὶ τὴν ἡλικίαν οὐ πάνυ ἀναδεδράμηκεν, ὀφθαλμός τε αὐτῆ, μέγας ὑπὸ βλοσυρᾷ τῇ ὀφρύϊ διέσχιστο. Psellos: Chronographia 6.1-
Her nose fell in a slight curve, but not too curved; she had golden hair, her entire body shone with whiteness; the length of her years was indicated by few signs
ἡ ῥὶς ἀπεκρέματο βραχύ τι καμπτομένη καὶ ὅσον μὴ κάμπτεσθαι, τήν τε κόμην εἶχε ξανθὴν καὶ τὸ σῶμα δι�ὅλον λάμπον λευκότητι· αἱ δὲ τῶν χρόνων αὐτῇ περίοδοι ἐν ὀλίγοῖς τισὶ συμβόλοις ἀπεσημαίνοντο. Psellos: Chronographia 6.5-9
Anyone who looked at the fine harmony of her limbs without knowing who she was would have said that she was till young: no part of her body was wrinkled, but it was all smooth and taut, with no loose wrinkles anywhere
εἰ δέ τις αὐτῇ τὴν εὐρυθμίαν τῶν μελῶν διαθρήσειε, ..., ἡβῶσαν ἄρτι προσεῖπεν· ἐρρυσσοῦτο γὰρ οὐδὲν αὐτῇ μέρος τοῦ σώματος, ἀ`λλὰ λεῖον τὸ ξύμπαν καὶ ἀποτετάμενον, καὶ ῥυτὶς οὐδαμοῦ χαλαρά. Psellos: Chronographia 6.9-11
The noble empress
τὴν εὐγενῆ βασιλίδα. Psellos: Chronographia 18.1
(Her marriage to
Konstantinos 9
) saw the end for her and
Theodora 1
of acting for themselves and holding absolute power in government ... After ruling together for three months, she and Theodora ended their rule
γίνεται ταῦτα ταῖς μὲν βασιλίσσαις τέλος τοῦ δι᾿ ἑαυτῶν τοι ποιεῖν καὶ αὐτοκρατεῖν ἐν τοῖς πράγμασιν ... Αἱ μὲν οὖν τρίτον μῆνα συνάρξασαι παύονται τῆς ἀρχῆς. Psellos: Chronographia VI 21.1-5
The money which
Basileios 2
had stored up in the palace by great sweat and toil became the plaything of
Maria 64
,
Theodora 1
and her, given and received as presents or channelled elsewhere: soon it was all used up and wasted
ἔνθεν ἃ πολλοῖς ἱδρῶσι καὶ πόνοις ὁ βασιλεὺς Βασίλειος ἐν τοῖς βασιλείοις ἀπεθησαύριζε, ταῦτα εἰς ἰλαρὰν ἐκείναις προέκειτο παιδιάν· ἄλλα γὰρ ἐπ᾿ ἄλλοις ἠμείβετό τε καὶ ἀντεδίδοτο, .... Psellos: Chronographia 63.1-5
Both she and
Theodora 1
seemed naturally odd: they scorned fresh air, splendid dwellings, meadows, parks - none of these charmed them
ἀλλόκοτος γὰρ αὐτῇ τε καὶ τῇ ἀδελφῇ ἡ φυσις ἐδόκει· ὀλιγώρως εἶχον καὶ εὐπνουστέρου ἀέρος, καὶ οἰκήματος λαμπροτέρου, καὶ λειμώνων, καὶ παραδείσων, καὶ οὐδὲν αὐτὰς τῶν τοιούτων ἔθελγεν. Psellos: Chronographia 64.20-3
While not finding much else to praise in her, ...
Michael 61
continued to admire one thing, that in her love of God she surpassed all women and all males
... ἕν τοῦτο θαυμάζων διατελῶ, ὅτι δὴ φιλοθείᾳ πάσας μὲν γυναῖκας, πᾶσαν δὲ φύσιν ὑπερεβάλλετο ἄρρενα. Psellos: Chronographia 65.1-5
The name of God alone was always on her tongue
οὐδὲν γὰρ ὅτι μὴ τὸ τοῦ Θεοῦ ὄνομα διὰ παντὸς ἐπὶ γλώσσης ἐκείνῃ. Psellos: Chronographia 65.11-12
Elder (of
Konstantinos 8
's two surviving daughters)
τῆς μείζονος. Psellos: Chronographia 144.4
Foolish woman
τὸ τῶν γυναικῶν ἐκείνων ἀβέλτερον. Psellos: Chronographia 144.11
After her death the great simplicity of
Romanos 62
led him to initiate great evils
ἐπεὶ δὲ ἀπεληλύθει τῶν τῇδε ἡ βασιλὶς. Psellos: Chronographia 145.1-4
When old she was not very steady in her thinking; she did not wander in her mind or depart from it, but she was absolutely ignorant of affairs and absolutely corrupted by an imperial lack of taste
ὡς δ ᾿ οὖν γηράσασα ἦν οὐ πάνυ τι εἶχε τοῦ φρονήματος ἐρρωμένως· λέγω δὲ οὐκ ὡς περὶ `παραφόρου ταύτης ἀδαοῦς, ὑπὸ βασιλικῆς δὲ ἀπειροκαλίας διεφθαρμένης παντάπασιν. Psellos: Chronographia 167.1-5
Her reverence for God was an exception to (her lack of taste):
Michael 61
cannot blame her for excess in this; this virtue in her was unsurpassed - she depended wholly on God, deriving everything from him and attributing everything to him
ὑπεξῃρήσθω δὲ ταύτης τὸ περὶ τὸ θεῖον σέβας, ..., ἀνυπέρβλητον δὲ αὐτῇ τὸ ἀγαθὸν τοῦτο ἐτύγχανεν ὂν, ἐξεκρέματο γὰρ ὅλη τοῦ θείου καὶ πάντα ἐκεῖθεν εἷλκέ τε καὶ ἐνόμιζεν. Psellos: Chronographia 167.8-11
As she knew that
Konstantinos 8
was unsparing in removing eyes, scarcely had someone committed the least crime than he was led off to this punishment; had
Konstantinos 9
not refused to concede, many would have been blinded for no reason
..., οὐκ ἔφθη τις τὸ βραχύτατον πλημμελήσας καὶ ἐπι τὴν τοιαύτην ἀπήγετο βάσανον, καὶ εἰ μὴ ὁ αὐτοκράτωρ οὐ ξυνεχώρει τὸ ἔργον, πολλοῖς ἂν ἐπ ᾿ οὐδενὶ λόγῳ ἐξεχύθη τὰ ὄμματα. Psellos: Chronographia 167.20-5
If anyone enthusiastically recounted to her the great deeds of her family, especially those of
Basileios 2
, she was delighted and her spirits immediately lifted
εἰ δέ τις αὐτῇ κατὰ σπουδὴν τὰ τοῦ γένους διεξῃ´ει καλὰ, καὶ μάλιστα ὁπόσα ὁ θεῖος Βασίλειος, ἠγάλλετό´ τε καὶ αὐτίκα μετέωρος ἦν τὴν ψυχήν. Psellos: Chronographia 168.4-7
Roared like a lioness over her companion in her den (after the fall of
Michael 5
)
մռնչեալ մատակ առիւծն ի վերայ ընկերին ի խշտիս իւր. Aristakes 52.2 (42)
She longed to give birth to heirs and strove to be called a mother; like a tree watered by two gardeners that ran the risk of remaining withered and leafless
καὶ παίδων δὲ διαδοχῆς καὶ τοκετοῦ διψῶσα καὶ γλιχομένη τεκνουργὸς ἀκοῦσαι παιδομήτωρ (ὑπὸ δυοῖν γὰρ κηπευτῶν ὡς δένδρον ποτισθεῖσα ἄχλοος ἐκινδύνευεν, ἄφυλλος, αὖος μένειν). Manasses, Chronicle 6134-6137
An adulteress (referring to her relationship with
Michael 4
while
Romanos 3
was still alive)
τὴν μοιχάδα. Glykas 587.19
Described by the angry mob protesting against Skleraina (
Maria 64
, mistress of
Konstantinos 9
) as their mother, born in the purple
αἱ μάνναι ἡμῶν αἱ πορφυρογέννητοι. Glykas 595.19-20
Legitimate heir to the throne and sovereign, she suffered greatly and unjustly, according to the crowd protesting against her banishment, being subjected to the cruel insolence of
Michael 5
(Kalaphates)
τὰ ἔσχατα πάσχουσαν ἀδίκως παρὰ τοῦ ἐπεισάντου. Attaleiates: History 15.23-16.1 / 13.1-3
She was the tallest, most beautiful and most strong-minded of the children of
Konstantinos 8
Psellos Orationes panegyricae II, 192-195
The first empress
τὴν πρώτην βασιλίδα. Psellos: Chronographia 36.7
Thought that she had planned excellently and appropriated the whole power for herself and would have
Michael 4
as her servant; but it turned ot rather differently
Zonaras 17.14.7
For a time
Michael 4
gave the appearance of retaining his disposition towards her and of gratifying her and doing the things which were pleasing to her
μέχρι μὲν γάρ τινος ἐσχηματίζετο τηρεῖν πρὸς τὴν βασιλίδα διάθεσιν καὶ ταύτῃ χαρίζεσθαι καὶ τὰ ἐκείνῃ θυμήρη ποιεῖν. Zonaras 17.14.8
Some say that
Romanos 3
was not unaware of the love, but
that the empress
Zoe 1
was aroused and in a state of sexual madness, and that he tolerated her partiality for
Michael 4
, feigning ignorance lest she associate with more men
εἰσὶ δ ᾿ οἳ λέγουσι μὴ ἀγνοῆσαι τὸν βασιλέα τὸν ἔρωτα, *** δ ᾿ ὅτι σφριγᾷ ἡ βασίλισσα καὶ περὶ τὰ ἀφροδίσια μέμηνε, τῆς πρὸς τὸν Μιχαὴλ αὐτῆς ῥοπῆς ἠνείχετο, ὑποκρινόμενος ἄγνοιαν, ἵνα μὴ πλείοσιν ὁμιλοίη. Zonaras 17.13.22
She, like her sister
Theodora 101
, was remembered as having specially trusted
Michael 61
αἱ πορφυρογέννητοι βασιλίδες. Psellos Letters (Gautier) 35.60
Reigned for 12 (and a half?) years together with
Konstantinos 9
Κωνσταντῖνος ὁ μονομάχος σὺν τῇ Ζωῇ ἔτη ιβ ´ ´. Glykas 459
Of carefree temperament
ἀνειμένων οὔσαις ἠθῶν. Zonaras 17.21.4
The mother who had not plotted ... she who knew nothing hitherto of
Michael 5
's audacities ... she who had been born in her bedchamber
τῆς μηδὲν ἐπιβουλευσάσης μητρὸς ...μηδὲν τέως τῶν τολμωμένων εἰδυῖαν ... (τοῦ κοιτωνίσκου) τὴν ἐγγενῆ. Psellos: Chronographia 21.3, 4-5
Michael 61
was was not without pain concerning her (treatment by
Michael 5
)
οὐ γὰρ ἦν ἐπὶ τῇ βασιλίδι ἀναλγητος. Psellos: Chronographia 40.2
The plant (of her family) blossomed and put out so many shoots, each with royal fruit, that it was not possible to compare others with it either in beauty or grandeur (in
Michael 61
's view)
οὕτω τὸ φυτευθὲν ἐξηνθήκει καὶ τοσαύταις προὐβάλλετο βλάστας, καὶ ἑκάστην μετὰ τοῦ βασιλείου καρποῦ, ὡς μὴ ἔχειν ἑτέρας ἀντισυγκρῖναι ταύταις, οὔτε πρὸς κάλλος οὔτε πρὸς μέγεθος. Psellos: Chronographia 1.10-13
Some thought her more suited to power (than
Theodora 1
), since she had previously already held the august rank and had unsurpassed ambition
τοῖς δὲ ἡ ἑτέρα τῶν ἀδελφῶν καταλληλότερα ἐδόκει τῷ κράτει, ὡς καὶ τὸ σεμνότερον ἤδη προειληφυῖα καὶ τὸ φιλότιμον ἀνυπέρβλητον ἔχουσα. Psellos: Chronographia 11.5-8
No small part of
Konstantinos 9
's lack of moderation was due to the easy-going character of her and
Theodora 1
, and his willingness to succumb like them to luxuries and laughter
γεγόνασι δὲ τούτῳ μερὶς οὐ μετρία πρὸς τὴν τοιαύτην ἀμετρίαν τὰ ῥᾴθυμα τῶν βασιλίδων ἤθη, καὶ τὸ κατ ᾿ ἐκείνας ἐθέλειν εἰς τρυφὰ`ς ἀνεῖσθαι καὶ γέλωτας. Psellos: Chronographia 49.1-3
She was already past the age for sexual relations, but desire still burned in
Konstantinos 9
ἔξωρος ἤδη πρὸς συνουσίαν ἀνδρὸς ἡ βασιλὶς, τῷ δέ γε βασιλεῖ τὰ τῆς ἐπιθυμίας ἐφλέγμαινεν. Psellos: Chronographia 151.1-3
If she had been graced with intellectual advantage, her mind did not preserve it untainted, but by demonstrating it more than necessary she revealed that it was not eagerness for distinction but lack of taste
εἰ δέ που καὶ ψυχικῷ προτερήματι ἐκεκόσμητο, ἀλλ ᾿ οὐδὲ τοῦτο διέσωσεν αὐτῇ καθαρὸν ἡ γνωμη, ἀλλὰ πλέον ἢ δεῖ ἔχειν ἐπιδεικνυμένη, οὐ φιλότιμον ἀλλ ᾿ ἀπειρόκαλον τοῦτο ὑπέφαινεν. Psellos: Chronographia 167.5-8
Most generous of all women, for this reason she squandered everything, as this virtue had no limit in her: she at once counted out the money and with the other hand invoked the Lord for the one receiving it
φιλοτιμοτάτη δὲ γενομένη πασῶν γυναικῶν, καὶ διὰ τοῦτο πάντα συνδιαφθείρουσα, ὅτι μὴ μέτρον εἶχε ταύτῃ τὸ καλὸν, ὁμοῦ τε τὰ χρήματα ἀπηρίθμει καὶ θατέρᾳ χειρὶ ἐδεξιοῦτο τῷ κρείττονι κατὰ τοῦ λαμβάνοντος. Psellos: Chronographia 168.1-4
She clung to and put all her energy into one thing - making sacrifice to God, not so much through praise, verbal offerings and penitence, but through spices and all that comes to our shores from India and Egypt
ἑνὸς δὲ μάλιστα εἴχετο καὶ περὶ τοῦτο σπουδὴν ἐτίθετο πᾶσαν, θυσίαν προσάγειν Θεῷ, οὔ φημι τοσοῦτον τὴν δι ᾿ αἰνέσεως λογικης τε προσαγωγῆς καὶ ἐξομολογήσεως, ἀλλὰ τὴν δι ᾿ ἀρωμάτων .... Psellos: Chronographia 149.5-9
She did not share the cares of empire with
Konstantinos 9
, wishing to be completely free of such toils; nor did she care about the things that occupy women, the loom, distaff, wool or weaving
τῶν ... βασιλικῶν φροντίδων οὐδ ᾿ ἐκοινώνει τῷ αὐτοκράτορι, ἀλλ ᾿ ἐβούλετο πάντη ἄσχολος εἶναι τῶν περὶ ταῦτα πόνων· οὐδὲ τῶν ὅσα γυναῖκας περὶ αὑτὰ ἀσχολεῖ, ἱστόν φημι καὶ ..., οὐδὲ τούτων ἐφρόντιζεν. Psellos: Chronographia 149.1-5
Romanos 3
was more than ten years older than her
πλέον γὰρ ἢ δέκα ἔτεσι τὴν τῆς βασιλίδος ἡλικίαν ὑπεραναβεβήκει. Psellos: Chronographia II 5.21-3
Michael 61
did not know if any other family was loved by God as much as that of
Theodora 1
and her, and he was amazed on reflecting that their roots were fixed and planted not lawfully, but by slaughters and bloodshed
οὐ γὰρ οἶδα εἴ τι ἕτερον γένος ὡς τὸ περὶ ἐκείνας ἠγάπηται τῷ Θεῷ καὶ θαυμάζω κατανοῶν ὅτι μὴ ἐννόμως αὐταῖς τῆς ῥίζης παγείσης καὶ φυτευθείσης, ἀλλὰ φόνοις καὶ αἵμασιν. Psellos: Chronographia 1.6-9
It was whispered by some that rule was more suited to
Theodora 1
[than to
Zoe 1
] because
Theodora 1
was the cause of the overthrow of the tyrant (
Michael 5
)
Zonaras 17.20.4
Seeing that Romanos [lived a separate life and forgot that he was married to a wife] who was still rather young, was agitated by some mean and villainous thoughts
καὶ βλέπουσα τὸν Ῥωμανὸν καθ’ ἑαυτὸν βιοῦντα καὶ μηδὲ μιμνησκόμενον ὡς δέδεται γυναίῳ καὶ συνοικοίη γαμετῇ, καὶ ταῦτα νεαζούσῃ, φαύλαις τισὶ καὶ μοχθηραῖς ἐννοίαις ἐσοβεῖτο. Manasses, Chronicle 5978-5981
Adulteress
τὴν μοιχαλίδα. Skylitzes 397.69
Called the first heir (to the throne of her father
Basileios 2
) and their mother by the crowds gathered at the forum of Constantine to listen to the declaration of
Michael 5
announcing her banishment, read by
Anastasios 101
τὴν ἀρχέγονον καὶ κληρονόμον καὶ ἡμετέραν μητέρα Ζωήν. Skylitzes 418.27-28
Middle daughter of
Konstantinos 8
[unnamed]
τὴν μέσην τῶν θυγατέρων. Psellos: Chronographia 9.12-13
Most beautiful of
Konstantinos 8
's daughters [unnamed]
ἡ καλλίστη τῶν τοῦ Κωνσταντίνου θυγατέρων. Psellos: Chronographia 10.24-5
After surviving long enough to see her marriage (to
Romanos 3
)
Konstantinos 8
quit life, leaving the power to
Romanos 3
[unnamed]
τοσοῦτον ἐπιζήσας ὅσον αἰσθέσθαι τῆς συνοικήσεως, μεταλλάττει τὸν βίον, τῷ κηδεστῇ �Ρωμανῷ τὸ κράτος καταλιπών. Psellos: Chronographia 10.24-6
Two things irritated her more than others: the ruler (
Romanos 3
) did not love her and she was not able to spend unstintingly: for he closed the treasuries to her and sealed off their wealth and she lived on a fixed allowance of money
... τό τε μὴ ἐρᾶν αὐτῆς τὸν κρατοῦντα καὶ τὸ μὴ ἔχειν ἀφθόνως χρῆσθαι τοῖς χρήμασιν· ἐπέκλεισε γὰρ αὐτῇ τὰ ταμεῖα καὶ τοὺς θήσαυροὺς ἐπεσφράγισε, καὶ πρὸς διαμεμετρημένην ἔζη χρημάτων ἐπίδοσιν. Psellos: Chronographia 6.9-13
She was furious with
Romanos 3
and the advisers whom he used in restricting her spending; they knew this and kept watch on her the more, especially
Poulcheria 101
μεμήνει γοῦν αὐτῷ τε καὶ τοῖς ὅσοις συμβούλοις ἐχρῆτο περὶ τὸ πρᾶγμα· οἳ δὲ τοῦτο ἠπίσταντο καὶ πλέον αὐτὴν ἐφυλάττοντο, καὶ μᾶλλον ἡ ... Πουλχερία. Psellos: Chronographia 6.14-16
When
Michael 4
won control of power, for a short time he as it were made a jest of imperial rule, partly surrendering to time and the unexpected outcome of things, partly pleasing her and devising amusements and diversions for her
τὴν βασιλείαν, ἵν � οὕτως εἴπω, διέπαιξε, τὰ μὲν τῷ καιρῷ διδοὺς καὶ τῇ ἀδοκήτῳ ἐκβάσει τοῦ πράγματος, τὰ δὲ τῇ γυναικὶ χαριζόμενος καὶ οἷον θυμηδίας αὐτῇ καὶ ἀναπαύλας προσμηχανώμενος. Psellos: Chronographia 9.2-7
All were favourably disposed to her as a woman and heir to the power, and she had won the hearts of all by her unsparing gift-giving (according to
Ioannes 68
)
τὸ σύμπαν εὐνοϊ�κώτερον πρὸς αὐτὴν ἔσχεν, ἅτε γυναῖκα καὶ κληρονόμον τοῦ κράτους, καὶ τῇ ἀφειδείᾳ τῶν δώρων τὰς τῶν πάντων ὑποποιησαμένην ψυχάς. Psellos: Chronographia 22.15-18
She was easy-going in her views and unable to oppose in any way (according to
Ioannes 68
)
εὔκολος τε οὖσα ταῖς γνώ´μαις καὶ μηδ � ὁτιουν῀ ἀντειπεῖν ἔχουσα. Psellos: Chronographia 22.22-3
Said to rank even with angels, since, I believe, from her tomb due to a certain dampness a fungus grew up, and this was called a sign dispensed from above, so that it might not be unknown that she was drawn up in company with the spritual powers
λέγεται ... ἀγγέλοις αὐτὴν παρεξισοῦν, ἐπειδή που τοῦ μνήματος ἐκείνης μύκης ἔκ τινος ὑγρότητος ἀνεβλάστησε, καὶ τοῦτο καλεῖν σημεῖον ἄνωθεν οἰκονομηθέν, ἵνα μὴ ἀγνοῆται ἡ βασιλὶς ταῖς νοεραῖς συντεταγμένη δυνάμεσι. Zonaras 17.28.2
Her existence stretched out more than seventy years
ὑπὲρ γὰρ τὰ ἑβδομήκοντα ἔτη παρεξετάθη αὐτῇ τὸ βιώσιμον. Zonaras 17.28.1
Successor to
Michael 5
, born in the purple, lady, her deeds are narrated in the Chronographia of
Michael 61
Χρονογραφία πονηθεῖσα τῷ ... Μιχαὴλ, ἱστοροῦσα τὰς πράξεις τῶν βασιλέων, ..., τῶν ἑξῆς ... πορφυρογεννήτων τῆς τε κυρᾶς Ζωῆς .... Psellos: Chronographia 1-8
Romanos 3
, who married her at his proclamation to power, seemed not to recognise that she had passed beyond the time of pregnancy, her womb already dry for childbirth (for she was fifty when betrothed to him)
οὐδὲ τοσοῦτον διαβλέπειν ἐδόκει ὡς ἡ τοῦ Κωνσταντίνου θυγάτηρ, ᾗ συνῴκησεν εἰς τὸ κράτος ἀναρρηθείς, τὸν τοῦ κύειν ὑπεραναβεβήκει χρόνον (πεντηκοστὸν γὰρ ἔτος εἶχε ... ὁπηνίκα κατηγγυήθη τῷ ῾Ρωμανῷ). Psellos: Chronographia II 5.4-9
Basileios 2
felt affection and strong love for her,
Eudokia 101
and
Theodora 1
, but took no more noble care for them; while guarding the power for his brother (
Konstantinos 8
) he put their care in his hands
ἠγάπα ... καὶ δεινῶς ἔστεργεν, οὐδὲν δέ τι γενναιότερον περὶ τούτων ἐφρόντισεν ... ἐπ’ ἐκείνῳ τὴν περὶ τούτων φροντίδα ἔθετο. Psellos: Chronographia II 4.10-13
If someone on seeing her suddenly pretended to fall down as if struck by lightning (a trick often played) he was at once presented with gold chains; but if he used too many words of thanks, he was bound again with iron chains
εἰ γοῦν τις αὐτὴν ἀθρόον ἰδὼν ὑπεκρίθη τὸ πεσεῖν ἐξ ἀστραπῆς ὥσπερ πληγεὶς ..., χρυσοῖς εὐθὺς ἐδεδώρητο ἀποδέσμοις· εἰ δὲ πλείοσι λόγοις εὐχαριστίας ἐχρήσατο, σιδηροῖς αὖθις καταδεῖτο δεσμοῖς. Psellos: Chronographia 167.16-20
It was her wish not to admit her sister (
Theodora 1
) as partner in the power; for she was extraordinarily jealous
ἦν μὲν οὖν αὐτῇ τὸ βουλόμενον μὴ προσήσεσθαι τοῦ κράτους κοινωνὸν τὴν ὁμαίμονα· ἐζηλοτύπει γὰρ ἐκτόπως. Zonaras 17.19.24
Basileios 2
died without having made any provision in the manner of an emperor for her,
Eudokia 101
and
Theodora 1
οὐδὲν περὶ τούτων φρονήσας βασιλικώτερον ἀπελήλυθεν. Psellos: Chronographia II 5.12-13
Michael 4
feigned a disposition and look of goodwill towards her for a time, but after a short period had elapsed he changed completely and gave back wicked return for her goodwill and favour towards him
τῆς πρὸς αὐτὸν εὐνοίας καὶ χάριτος πονηρὰς ἀντιδίδωσιν ἀμοιβὰς. Psellos: Chronographia IV 6.1-4
Michael 61
declines to praise or blame
Michael 4
's changed attitude to her: his hatred for his benefactress and unfeeling behaviour is not good, but his fear that she might engulf him in similar evils (to
Romanos 3
) is to be praised
... τὸ μὲν γὰρ μισεῖν τὴν εὐεργέτιδα καὶ ἀγνωμόνως πρὸς ταύτην φέρεσθαι οὐκ ἐν καλοῖς τίθεμαι, τὸ δὲ δεδίεναι περὶ ταύτῃ μὴ τοῖς ἴσοις καὶ τοῦτον περιβαλεῖ κακοῖς οὐκ ἔχω μὴ ἐπαινεῖν. Psellos: Chronographia IV 6.5-8
In general her lifestyle was sometimes mild and lax, sometimes too harsh and tense: these characteristics alternated for no reason in a brief moment regarding the same person
ὁ δέ γε λοιπὸς αὐτῇ βίος πῆ μὲν ἁπαλός τε καὶ ἔκλυτος, πῆ δὲ σκληρὸς ἄγαν τι τοῦ χρόνου ἐπὶ ταὐτοῦ τὰ ἰδιώματα διηλλάττετο. Psellos: Chronographia 167.13-16
Second of the daughters of
Konstantinos 8
ἡ δευτέρα τῶν θυγατέρων τοῦ Κωνσταντίνου. Zonaras 17.10.22
Tme had carried away the envy in her now that she was beyond her prime, and her experience of trials made her more moderate
ὅ τε γὰρ χρόνος παρήνεγκεν αὐτῇ τὸ ζηλότυπον, ἤδη τυγχανούσῃ παρήλικι, καὶ οἱ συμβεβηκότες αὐτῇ πειρασμοὶ μετριωτέραν εἰργάσαντο. Zonaras 17.21.16
Most well-born
τὴν εὐγενεστάτην. Psellos: Chronographia 21.6
The elder, she had a mind more ready with ideas, but a tongue slower in conversing (than
Theodora 1
)
ἡ μὲν πρεσβυτέρα τὴν ἡλικίαν Ζωὴ ἑτοιμοτέρα ἦν τὴν ψυχὴν πρὸς ἐνθύμημα, βραδυτέρα δὲ τὴν γλῶτταν πρὸς ὁμιλίαν. Psellos: Chronographia 4.2-4
Konstantinos 9
reigned with her and
Theodora 1
τοῦ σὺν αὐταῖς Κωνσταντίνου τοῦ Μονμάχου. Psellos: Chronographia Introduction 8-9
Michael 61
does not know well what
Zoe 1
was like in her youth, except from hearsay
Ἐκείνη γὰρ ὅπως εἶχεν ἐφ ᾿ η῞βης οὔπω σαφῶς οἶδα, εἰ μὴ ὅσον ἀκοῇ μεμαθηκὼς. Psellos: Chronographia 166.5-7
She was in any case amenable
ἄλλως εὐάγωγον οὖσαν. Zonaras 17.18.7
Second and middle daughter (of
Konstantinos 8
), who was seen by
Michael 61
when she had already grown old, she was most imperial in character, most brilliant in form and most magnificent and awesome in mind-set [unnamed]
ἡ δὲ μετ� ἐκείνην καὶ μέση, ..., καὶ τὸ ἦθος βασιλικωτάτη, καὶ τὸ εἶδος λαμπροτάτη, καὶ τὴν γνώμην μεγαλοπρεπεστάτη τε καὶ αἰδέσιμος . Psellos: Chronographia 5.5-8
Dignity/Office
(34)
Augousta
αὐγούστης. Iveron 1.242.25
αὐγούστῃ. Kleinchroniken 166.11, 166.12
Αὐγούσταις. Mauropous: Orations 32.1
αὐγούστης. Skylitzes Continuatus 167.9
Αὐγουστης. Zonaras 17.11.5
αὐγούσταν. Psellos: Chronographia 17.1
αὐγούστης. Psellos: Chronographia 15.2
Basileus
βασιλέων. Psellos: Chronographia 1.3
Basileus (co-empress)
αὐτοκράτορες. Attaleiates: History 18.3 / 14.18
Basilis
τῆς βασιλίδος. Skylitzes 376.83
τὸ πᾶν κράτος περιέστη ὡς εἰς κληρονόμον τὴν βασιλίδα. Skylitzes 416.58-59
βασιλεῖς Κωνσταντινουπόλεως. Glykas 459
βασιλίδα. Glykas 589.14
βασιλίδος. Attaleiates: History 10.16 / 9.1
βασιλίδι. Psellos: Chronographia 5.19; 5.22; 6.9; etc.
βασιλίδες. Psellos: Chronographia 3.18
βασιλὶς. Psellos: Chronographia 18.7; 51.14; 51.17; etc.
(دعى ... بالملك). Yahya al-Antaki 488
τῆς βασιλίδος. Anna Komnene 172.35
թագուհւոյն. Aristakes 50.11-12 (39)
βασιλίς. Psellos Keroularios 324
βασιλίδων. Psellos Apologetikos 1-2 (tit.)
Basilissa
βασίλισσα. Psellos: Chronographia 3.8
βασιλίσσαις. Psellos: Chronographia 21.1
βασίλισσα. Manasses, Chronicle 5976, 6055, 6132, 6230
βασιλίσσῃ. Manasses, Chronicle 6046
Despoina
τῶν ἁγίων δεσποινῶν. Nea Mone, Miklosich-Müller 5.6, 5.9
Empress
imperatricis. Lupus protospatharius 59.24
imperati. Anonymus Barensis 151
δάμαρτα ἄνακτος, ἄνασσαν. Christophoros of Mitylene 8.23
Porphyrogennetos
τῆς πορφυρογεννήτου. Iveron 1.242.25
αἱ πορφυρογέννητοι βασιλίδες. Psellos Letters (Gautier) 35.60
τῶν πορφυρογεννήτων. Nea Mone, Miklosich-Müller 5.6
τῇ πορφυροβλαστήτῳ. Manasses, Chronicle 5968, 6065
Education
(1)
She,
Eudokia 101
and
Theodora 1
were thought worthy of an imperial upbringing and education in the palace itself [unnamed]
ἐπὶ τοῖς βασιλείοις αὐτοῖς βασιλικῆς ἠξιοῦντο καὶ ἀνατροφῆς καὶ παιδεύσεως. Psellos: Chronographia 4.8-10
Ethnic label
(null)
Second Name
(null)
Kinship
(88)
daughter of
Helena 103
θυγατέρας. Psellos: Chronographia 4.7
τρία ... θυγάτρια. Zonaras 17.10.7
daughter of
Konstantinos 8
θυγατρί. Alexios Stoudites 11.13
τῇ θυγατρί. Kleinchroniken 142.64, 165.10
θυγατέρας. Psellos: Chronographia 4.7; 9.12-13; 10.24-5; etc.
(πατὴρ). Psellos: Chronographia 5.14; 5.19; 10.27
(πατὴρ). Psellos: Chronographia 26.12
θυγάτηρ. Psellos: Chronographia 34.4
(πάτέρα αὐτῆς). Psellos: Chronographia 167.20-1
τρία ... θυγάτρια. Zonaras 17.10.7
θατέρᾳ τῶν θυγατέρων. Psellos Orationes panegyricae II, 192-193
filiam. Lupus protospatharius 57.41
θυγατράσι. Manasses, Chronicle 5963
daughter (elder) of
Konstantinos 8
դստերք...զանդրանիկն. Aristakes 42.11-12 (28)
daughter (second) of
Helena 103
θατέρᾳ τῶν θυγατέρων. Psellos Orationes panegyricae II, 192-193
daughter (second) of
Konstantinos 8
θυγατέρων τριῶν...ἡ δὲ τῷ χρόνῳ δευτέρα. Skylitzes 374.33-37
τριῶν θυγατέρων. Glykas 580.16
ἡ δε δευτέρα τῶν θυγατέρων. Zonaras 17.10.22
ابنته الوسطا. Yahya al-Antaki 486
granddaughter of
Romanos 2
(ὁ ἐκεῖνον φὺς). Psellos: Chronographia 26.13
kin of
Romanos 3
τῆς συγγενείας. Skylitzes 374.38
lover of
Michael 4
ἀντερῶντας. Psellos: Chronographia 23.2
ἡ ἐρωτικὴ συζυγία. Psellos: Chronographia 26.3
τὸν ἐραστὴν ἢ ἐρώμενον. Psellos: Chronographia 21.19
mother (adoptive) of
Michael 5
μητρός. Psellos Orationes panegyricae II, 407-408
(εἰσποιητὸν...υἱόν). Skylitzes 417.73
(εἰσποιητὸν προσλαμβάνει υἱόν). Glykas 589.17-18
(τεκνοποιηθεὶς παρὰ τῆς αὐγούστας). Kleinchroniken 166.12
(θέσει χρηματίσας υἱός). Attaleiates: History 11.1-2 / 9.7
εἰς υἱοῦ τάξιν ἀναλάμβανει. Psellos: Chronographia 23.8-9; cf. 9-10
μητρὸς. Psellos: Chronographia 41.11
(εἰσποιητὸν ...υἱὸν). Zonaras 17.16.9
(εἰσποιεῖται ... καὶ ὡς υἱὸν ἀγκαλίζεται ). Zonaras 17.16.11, 17.18.6
յորդեգիրս. Aristakes 50.12 (39)
μητρός. Psellos Orationes panegyricae II, 407-408
εἰσποιητὸν ... υἱόν. Manasses, Chronicle 6045-6046
niece of
Basileios 2
(θεῖος). Psellos: Chronographia 5.12; 5.18
(θείου, θεῖε). Psellos: Chronographia 22.7, 10
ἀνεψίαν. Psellos: Chronographia 22.25
(θεῖος). Psellos: Chronographia 168.6
sister of
Eudokia 101
(ἀδελφῶν). Psellos: Chronographia 22.12
τρία ... θυγάτρια. Zonaras 17.10.7
sister of
Theodora 1
ἀδελφῇ. Skylitzes 375.65
Θεόδωρος ὁ ἀδελφὸς τῆς Ζωῆς. Glykas 459
τῇ ἀδελφῇ. Kleinchroniken 166.12
αὐταδέλφαις. Mauropous: Orations 32.1
τὴν ὁμαίμονα. Attaleiates: History 16.4 / 13.6
αὐταδέλφων. Psellos: Chronographia 7
(ἀδελφῶν). Psellos: Chronographia 22.12
(ἀδελφῇ). Psellos: Chronographia 34.7; 34.9; 34.13; etc.
τρία ... θυγάτρια. Zonaras 17.10.7
ἀδελφῇ. Zonaras 17.11.5, 17.19.27
τὴν σύγγονον. Zonaras 17.19.16
τὴν ὁμαίμονα. Zonaras 17.19.24
(τὴν ἀδελφὴν). Zonaras 17.19.26
αὐταδέλφων. Zonaras 17.21.1
քոյր. Aristakes 50.16 (39)
ὁμόγονον. Psellos Orationes panegyricae I, 208
sororum. Lupus protospatharius 58.26
ταὐτόσπορον. Manasses, Chronicle 6229
wife of
Konstantinos 9
συνάπτεται εἰς κοινωνίαν γάμου. Skylitzes 423.45
(συνάπτεται). Glykas 593.14-15
(συζυγέντα). Kleinchroniken 143.68, 167.14
(παραχωρεῖ πάλιν τῆς συζυγίας). Attaleiates: History 18.8 / 15.4
ὁμευνέτιδι. Psellos: Chronographia 49.8
τελεῖται ...ἡ ἱεροτελεστία ἡ γαμική. Zonaras 17.20.18
(այր իւր). Aristakes 52.7 (42)
(viros). Lupus protospatharius 59.11-12
(νυμφεύεται πρὸν γάμον). Manasses, Chronicle 6153
wife of
Michael 4
(ἱεροτελεστίας αὐτοὺς ἀξιῶσαι). Skylitzes 391.8
(ἱερολογίας ἀξιῶσαι αὐτούς). Glykas 585.18-19
γυναικὶ. Psellos: Chronographia 9.6
τὴν ἱεροτελεστίαν τὴν γαμικὴν ἐπ ᾿αὐτοῖς γενέσθαι. Zonaras 17.14.5
συζύγου. Attaleiates: History 10.16 / 9.1
(այր իւր). Aristakes 46.22 (33)
wife of
Romanos 3
συζύγου. Skylitzes 375.65
εἰς βασιλικὴν συμβίωσιν ἄγεται. Psellos: Chronographia 10.25-6
συνοικήσεως. Psellos: Chronographia 10.27
(ᾗ συνῳ´κησεν). Psellos: Chronographia 5.5-6
κατηγγυήθη. Psellos: Chronographia 5.9
γυναικὶ. Psellos: Chronographia 5.14; 22.12
συζεύγνυται αὐτῷ πρὸς συμβίωσιν. Zonaras 17.10.22
(συνήρμοστο τῇ Ζωῇ). Zonaras 17.10.24
կնութիւն. Aristakes 42.12 (28)
(ἐπάγεται). Psellos Orationes panegyricae II, 194-195
uxorem. Lupus protospatharius 57.41
συζυγῆναι. Manasses, Chronicle 5968
wife (second) of
Romanos 3
(ἱερολογεῖται). Skylitzes 374.39
(συνάπτεται). Glykas 580.18
Language Skill
(null)
Location
(36)
Constantinople
with her exhortations she calmed Constantinople Πόλιν. Psellos: Chronographia 5.3
Constantinople: Blachernai
adopted
Michael 5
as her son at the gates of the sanctuary in the church at Blachernai ὁ θεῖος σηκὸς. Psellos: Chronographia 23.6
was brought forward and went within the sanctuary screen at Blachernai τὸν ἐν Βλαχέρναις θεῖον ναὸν. Zonaras 17.16.11
Constantinople: Chalke
sat beside
Konstantinos 9
in the vestibule at the triumph [over
Georgios 62
] Chalke (Church of the Saviour at ) τοῦ ἐν τῇ Χαλκῇ λεγομένῃ τοῦ Σωτῆρος ναοῦ. Zonaras 17.22.19
watched the triumph from the church of Christ at the Chalke τῆς οὕτως λεγομένης Χαλκῆς Φυλακῆς. Psellos: Chronographia 88.1-6
Constantinople: Great Palace
introduced her father (
Basileios 2
)'s eunuchs (
Anonymi 112
) to the Great Palace εἰς τὰ ἀνάκτορα. Skylitzes 392.15
lived a soft life in Palace βασιλείοις. Psellos: Chronographia 17.11
returned from the northern part of the city to the southern palace ἐν τοῖς κατὰ νότον ἀνακτόροις. Attaleiates: History 10.16-17 / 9.1
was brought up and educated in Palace βασιλείοις. Psellos: Chronographia 4.9-10
was summoned by
Michael 5
to the Great Palace ἐν τῷ παλατίῳ. Skylitzes 419.42
by the wish of
Michael 5
, was to be driven from palace τῶν βασιλείων. Psellos: Chronographia 17.13
looked up at palace τὰς βασιλείους αὐλὰς. Psellos: Chronographia 22.3
made a sort of threnodic apostrophe to palace τὰ ἀνάκτορα. Psellos: Chronographia 22.4
returned to palace τὰ βασίλεια. Psellos: Chronographia 54.1
she was in palace ἡ βασίλειος αὐλὴ τῶν βασιλείων. Psellos: Chronographia 50.12; 51.2
was bought to palace ἀνακτόροις. Psellos: Chronographia 32.1-2
was driven by
Michael 5
from palace τῶν βασιλείων. Psellos: Chronographia 21.11
Constantinople: Great Palace, Chrysotriklinos
(following the murder of
Romanos 3
) sat in the decorated Great Palace, Chrysotriklinos τοῦ χρυσοτρικλίνου. Skylitzes 391.3
presented
Michael 4
to the patriarch
Alexios 11
in the Great Palace, Chrysotriklinos ἐν τῷ χρυσοτρικλινίῳ. Glykas 585.13
Constantinople: Hippodrome
was led up on high in Hippodrome τοῦ μεγάλου θεάτρου. Psellos: Chronographia 32.13
was set high up in Hippodrome τῷ θεάτρῳ. Zonaras 17.19.13
went in procession to Hippodrome θέατρον. Psellos: Chronographia 61.6
Constantinople: Mangana
made a donation to Hagios Georgios of Mangana τοῦ τροπαιοφόρου. Mauropous: Orations 37
Constantinople: Petrion
tonsured her sister
Theodora 1
at Petrion τὸ Πετρίον. Skylitzes 385.35-36
went to Petrion Τὸ Πέτριον. Zonaras 17.12.7
Mitylene
recalled the exiled Monomachos (
Konstantinos 9
) from Mitylene Λεσβόθεν. Glykas 593.11
Nea Mone, Chios
contributed to the growth of the monastery of Nea Mone, Chios Νέα Μονή. Nea Mone, Miklosich-Müller 5.6
Princes' Islands
was banished by
Michael 5
to the remote islands հեռաբնակ կղզիս. Aristakes 50.14-15 (39)
Princes' Islands: Prinkipo
in the mind of
Konstantinos 9
, was always connected with Prinkipo νῆσον. Psellos Orationes panegyricae I, 196-198
was banished by
Michael 5
to Prinkipo εἰς Πρίγκηπον. Skylitzes 418.16
was banished by
Michael 5
to Prinkipo εἰς Πρίγκιπον. Glykas 590.18
was banished by
Michael 5
to Prinkipo ἐν Πριγκήπῳ τῇ νήσῳ. Kleinchroniken 166.12
was banished to Prinkipo ἡ Πρίγκιπος. Attaleiates: History 13.9-10 / 11.5-6
was confined on Prinkipo τοῦ Πρίγκιπος. Zonaras 17.19.3
was put on by
Michael 5
Prinkipo Πρίγκιπος. Psellos: Chronographia 21.11-12
Sosthenion (on Bosporos)
made several donations to the monastery of Saint Michael at Sosthenion (on Bosporos) τῆς μονῆς τῆς τιμίας τοῦ Σωσθενίου. Mauropous: Orations 39
Occupation/Vocation
(3)
Nun
ἀποκεῖραι. Skylitzes 418.16
τὰ μοναχικά. Glykas 591.14
(κουρευθεῖσαν τὸ μεγάλο σχῆμα). Kleinchroniken 166.12
Possession
(null)
Religion
(null)
Eunuchs
(null)
Alternative Name
(1)