Seven Hills, Thousand Tales, Istanbul

I explore Theodora’s rise to power and her decisive role in the Nika Riots, which set the Hippodrome — and the city — on fire. I also examine how her resolve steadied Justinian. I then explore the answer in stone and light: the Hagia Sophia, rebuilt under the direction of Anthemius of Tralles and Isidore of Miletus. Its pendentive-borne dome was both an engineering feat and a symbol of imperial power.