The Misunderstood Byzantine Princess and Her Magnum Opus

Several of the stories of the poisoning of imperial heirs, for example, point to the uncertainty of the rights of succession.

For the most part, they are portrayed as abusers rather than users of power. They take it illegitimately, in a way that leads to chaos, to the fracture of the state, to death and destruction. They are monstrous hybrids, who are not, in the Greek sense, women at all. And the unflinching logic of their stories is that they must be disempowered and pu

The other side of the story

Archaeology, tyranny – and rape

Many mythical stories of early Rome pose the problem of dashing heroes who step out of line to take on the enemy single-handedly. Did they deserve punishment for disobedience or honour for bringing victory to Rome?

Governors and governed

Problems and successions