History Procopius: The Secret History, v.1, 7 October 2008.

[Patricia]

Procopius of Caesarea:
The Secret History (written c550 CE).
Translated by Richard Atwater (1892-1948)
With an Introduction by Paul Halsall.

A racy history of the Byzantine Emperor Justinian and his wife, the former courtesan and actress, Theodora. Learn how he is a devil in human form, responsible for a trillion deaths. Also how the lady’s theatrical performances involved imaginative depravity with poultry.

I suspect that the author may not always be entirely accurate.

Copyright
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The cover image is Empress Theodora and an attendant, from a mosaic in San Vitale, Ravenna, dating from the first half of the 6th century.

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[HarryT]

Ouch! Even to a person not of the female persuasion that sounds jolly painful unless the geese were very well trained .

What a wonderful book. "History" at its best .