ABSTRACT
Byzantium as an orthodox Christian state gave great honour to the Blessed Virgin in her role as the Theotokos or mother of God. In Islam there was no tradition comparable to the Christian one of the Holy Virgin, and as the sultan did not function as God's representative on earth, there was certainly no reason why the women of his household should do so and indeed, they occupied no exalted public role. Indeed, in certain details such as the tall pointed hat of de la Brocquiore's empress which resembles the headdresses of Turkish women, it might be more acceptable to assume that the Byzantines enjoyed wearing Eastern fashions. In matters of clothing oriental fashions were familiar to the Byzantines, and at times were adopted and adapted by them. The fashion worn by Theodora changed over the centuries, although the evidence again is sporadic.
