So this week, I took a journey—not to the goddess—but to the Byzantine mosaics depicting Empress Theodora in Ravenna. Theodora was married to Emperor Justinian I, who ruled the Eastern Roman Empire during the 6th c. Due to her intelligence and political savvy (and legend has it, her beauty as well), she held considerable power for a woman at this time. This particular mosaic is placed opposite her husband’s and next to the central image of Jesus at the head of the Basilica. My experience there was awe-inspiring—not only because of the timeless beauty of the sacred space itself, but also because I felt as if I was somehow in the presence of Empress Theodora. #empresstheodora #ravenna #byzantine #divinefemininepower #femaleleaders @ Basilica di San Vitale