Histamenon of the Augusta Theodora Makrembolitissa c. 1055 - 1056

Curator: The Histamenon of the Augusta Theodora Makrembolitissa. The Harvard Art Museums hold this artifact, minted from gold. The work is an example of Byzantine artistry. Editor: It feels small, but dense. There’s something inherently weighty about holding power in your palm. I am curious about the symbolic narrative being depicted here. Curator: Visually, the coin presents clear symbolic divisions. On one side, Christ Pantocrator, his form frontal, austere. The other side, the Empress alongside a religious figure, likely Mary. The composition underscores an iconographic program rooted in religious authority. Editor: This juxtaposition seems deliberate. It raises interesting questions about Theodora's legitimacy as a ruler. Was this an attempt to align her temporal power with divine sanction? Curator: Precisely. The materiality itself—gold—speaks to wealth, power, and endurance. We can think about the visual impact of something like this circulating widely in the Byzantine empire. Editor: The presence of Theodora on currency is a bold statement. The coin becomes more than a medium of exchange. It's a powerful message of female authority in what we understand to be a patriarchal society. Curator: Indeed, and the precision of the engraving, the use of relief to create depth, all contribute to an object of both political and aesthetic significance. Editor: Considering Theodora's context, the work is a fascinating object lesson in how visibility and power are negotiated. Thank you for pointing out these formal and historical components of this fascinating work.