ABSTRACT
The emperor Justinian and his vast entourage of officials, servants, pack horses and carts are assembling outside the walls of the imperial capital. When Justinian first arrived in Constantinople he will have passed the large basilica church of St Polyeuktos built by the empress Eudocia. Of particular concern during Justinian’s reign was the large number of monks arriving in Constantinople fleeing persecution in the east, particularly after 536 when they were outlawed by imperial decree for dissenting from the orthodox Christology. The pomp and majesty of the imperial court dominated Constantinople in the time of Justinian. The city functioned as the theatre for an elaborate and colourful ritual with every movement of the imperial personage around the city carefully planned and stylised. Since Constantinople was now the city where emperors were born, baptised, married, crowned, and were buried, each of these occasions gave rise to significant public ceremonial.
