#Theodora Williams

[miraplayssims]

The day of Benjamin and Theodora´s wedding had come. The bethroded hadn´t talked or even seen to eachother since their parents told them about their planned marriage and Benjamin felt it was high time to do so.

Leaving his parents and future in-laws talking outside, Benjamin walked in to the church where his sisters were waiting for the ceremony to begin.

He walked up to his Magdalena and cleared his throat, "Magda, do you know where Theo is?"

“I believe she´s getting ready in the sacristy," she said, giving him a sympathetic look, "how are you feeling, brother?"

"I´m fine," he sighed, "thank you."

Benjamin knocked on the door and heard a quiet "come in" from inside. When he entered and saw his childhood friend dressed in all white, silently sobbing with her face buried in her hands, his heart sank. My dear, dear friend, he thought, how I wish you wouldn´t be crying on your wedding day.

Benjamin kneeled down in front of the crying girl, "Oh Theo," he mumbled, "it´ll be all right."

Theodora looked up at him, wiping the tears from her cheeks, "yes," she nodded softly, "I´m being dramatic."

He grabbed her cold hands and squessed them thight, "no, you´re not. Cry if you want to, God knows I have," he whispered, "listen Theo, I swear to you I´ll try my best to make you happy, as a friend or as a husband. We don´t ever even have to share a bed, if that´s what you wish. We decide how this will work, no one else."

Theodora had stopped sobbing, but tears still trickled down her face, "I know you´ll be good to me, that´s not my worry. It´s just-," her voice thickened, "well, it´s just that I wish to have children some day. But as you said, perhaps we´ll never share the marital bed."

"If you wish to have children, we´ll have children," he reassured her.

Theodora stood up, smiling bleakly, "thank you," she whispered and embraced him, "you´re my dearest friend."

They stood there for a while in a silent embrace before Benjamin finally broke away, "come now, I think it´s time."

[phillips-sisters]

13 October 2018 || The official portraits released of Savannah and Isla Phillips with a few family members, the bride, groom, pageboys, and other bridesmaids at Princess Eugenie’s wedding to Jack Brooksbank

[whispersobliviate]

Cleopatra | John William Waterhouse

An Egyptian Pottery Seller near Gizeh | Elisabeth Jerichau-Baumann

The Sorceress | Georges Merle

Empress Theodora | Jean Joseph Benjamin Constant

[lil-grem-reblogs]

Memes from the RP realm

[ask-elland-n-will]

Villiam the Vampire and Hellendil the Egyptian Pharaoh have stepped into the local Haunted House Room. The ghosts at the entrance have warned them that their sense of direction can't save them in there: the room shifts and its interior changes, barriers and smaller corridors form out of thin air to confuse while the road back might not always imply the exit. In order not to disrupt the inner workings of the room, they were required to leave their wands at the entrance, securely hidden away in case some nifflers decide to entertain the idea of casting spells.

It's pitch black and Will has to really squint to get the glimpses of the cobwebs, old furniture, and even his own feet. He automatically reaches for his companion's hand even if he is not normally that easily scared, pickles aside. If he can logically explain it then fear is illogical, especially with something as harmless as a student-made haunted house. They have ghosts flying all over the school, nothing should be able to scare them, they are not muggles!

At the same time, William wasn't the prefect in charge of this particular attraction and it unnerved him a little. What if the spell they used was not reliable or they cast it wrong? What if the professors missed something while checking the room? What if…

Suddenly, a window to his right flashes as if lightning stroke nearby, loud thunder making him screech and jump to the side, bumping into something warm and... filled with straw? Something that also lets out a high-pitched scream, making William violently jerk away from it with yet another shriek.

@theravenchild @theodoradevlin

[romanovsonelastdance]

Series: The Wedding of OTMAA's cousin Louise Mountbatten.

[heavyarethecrowns]

[royal-confessions]

“I can just imagine Constantine trying to marry off Theodora and William and Olympia and Harry.” - Submitted by Anonymous

[mote-historie]

1900 William Downey, Sarah Bernhardt in character as Theodora the Empress of Byzantium (Empress Theodora) in "Theodora: A Drama in Five Acts and Eight Tableau" (1885) by Victorien Sardou. Premiered: Theatre de la Porte Saint-Martin in Paris. 

Sardou's enthusiasm for historical authenticity was shared by his star. Weeks before ordering her costumes, she journed to Ravenna and stood long hours in the Church of San Vitale studying the magnificent mosaics with their startling portraits of Theodora and Justinian staring menacingly forth from barbaric gold. She made sketches of every robe, every fold, every detail or ornamentation. When she returned to Paris she had completed in detail a dressmaker's design for each outfit, as well as those for her stage jeweller, even to that death-dealing hairpin. Her wardrobe along cost more than the average production. Her costumer figured out that toiling in her work rooms she and her assistants had sewn on by hand more than 4,500 'gems'. (x)

[letterboxd-loggd]

Theodora Goes Wild (1936) Richard Boleslawski

December 8th 2022

[miraplayssims]

Magdalena’s work days were getting longer and longer. The long hours didn’t bother her, however she knew her parents weren’t all that happy about it. Most days she’d have to run all the way from town to get home in time for supper.

"I´m home!" Magdalena exclaimed when she all but fell through the door.

Eugene threw a quick glance at his winded daughter before getting back to scraping his plate clean, "how gracious of you to finally join us," he teased.

"Yes, yes, very amusing," she said, kissing her parents hello before sitting down at the table, "so, what have I missed?"

After supper when Alice, Magdalena and Theodora finally were done with the dishes, Magdalena cleared her throat.

"I have something to tell you," she said, "I didn´t bring it up at dinner because, well, I don´t know how Marion will react."

Alice studied her daughter´s face, trying to figure out wether the news were good or bad "out with it then, lassie."

"I know I haven´t been home much these last couple months becuase of work, even though I promised you and papa I´d be able to help out just as much as before," Magdalena began, "I feel like that isn´t fair to any of you, especially know that you´re here Theo. What I´m trying to say is, Ms. Billingsley has offered me to move in with her. I think it´s a good idea, it´s one less mouth to feed, and it would give the girl´s more space in our room."

Theodora hugged her friend, "how exciting, Magda!"

Magdalena gave her an appreciative smile, "thank you. What do you think, mama?"

"I´m very happy for you, dear" Alice said, "I´ll speak with your father, don´t worry, I´m certain he´ll be just as pleased."

A week or so later, the day finally came for Magdalena to move out. And although everyone was happy for her, they were all sad to see her go, especially Marion.

"I´ll miss you terribly," the girl frowned, burrying her face in Magdalena´s neck.

"Now, now, it´s only a short walk from town. I´ll come visit all the time, and you can visit me as well!" Magdalena reassured her sister.

"I´ll hold you to that," Alice said when it was her turn to say good bye, "farewell for now my dear girl. I´m so very proud of you. It turns out your father was right all along, that typeweriter was a very smart investment indeed."

[phillips-sisters]

12 October 2018 || Savannah and Isla Phillips at Princess Eugenie’s wedding with the guests, bride, groom, pageboys, other bridesmaids

[rikastrology]

nakshatras as art: ashlesha

1."Circe Invidosa" John William Waterhouse 2."Empress Elisabeth of Austria" Franz Xaver Winterhalter 3."Medusa" Carvaggio 4."Empress Theodora" Jean-Joseph Benjamin Constant

[alice-blogs-things]

The Haunting of Hill House (Show) vs The Magnus Archives

Finally started listening to the Magnus Archives this summer, so of course I wanted to see if I could combine its lore with my other favourite horror production of recent times.

The Crain Sibs vs the Avatars

Steven Crain- the Eye

Places a lot of emphasis on visual evidence when conducting his paranormal investigations

"I've never seen a ghost" Has actually seen several, along with many other fucked up things his siblings did not, such as the warning signs of Olivia spiralling.

Placed in the role of protector of the younger four from childhood, expected to watch over them and keep an eye on them, a duty that never goes away

Come on, you can't tell me that if this guy met Jonathan, especially in the first season, they wouldn't get along.

Shirley Crain-Harris- the Corruption

Bugs feature most prominently in her episode, which features an actual wasp nest

Her kittens all end up being diseased, in effect corrupted before they have a chance

Her literal job is to paint over dead bodies so they're more palatable to look at, while fully knowing the rot beneath, which she is paid to conceal, but can't escape from herself

Theodora Crain- the Eye

Technically has touch-based powers, not sight-based, but her powers come with an immense burden of secret knowledge, Knowing things she shouldn't know

Can't shake hands with someone without getting a front row seat to the worst things they've ever done

Literally Saw her mother as a dead body long before it actually happened, and was terrified by it

Luke Crain- the Lonely

Everyone, the viewer included, thinks his childhood best friend is imaginary.

He's often seen playing alone in the flashbacks, and faces his encounter with William Hill's ghost entirely alone as well

His one friend as an adult ends up betraying him and leaving him alone- making genuine, non-familial connections seems to be an ongoing struggle.

Nell Crain-Vance- the End

Was literally haunted by her own death for twenty-six years and didn't know until it was too late

Her adult self doesn't appear in the second half of the show, except as a ghost

Is tricked into walking- or falling- into her own death by the promise of reuniting with those she's already lost- death is a constant presence for her.

Bonus: Olivia Crain- the Spiral

The more time she spends in Hill House, the more she loses her grip on reality

She's effectively lured into this by Poppy, similar to how Michael and Helen were

Ends up bound to the house, a twisted corruption of her best qualities, no longer able to really know what's best for her family

[ask-elland-n-will]

[incorrect-koh-posts]

In your research, have you ever run across any reliable descriptions of Agnes de Courtenay, her brother Joscelin, or Sybilla?

I am sorry to disappoint you, dear anon, but - quite frankly: no. To my knowledge, no first-hand accounts of what they looked or behaved like survive. The problem is that neither William of Tyre nor Ernoul describe women in their texts; the only woman whose appearance William briefly comments on is Theodora Komnena, the Byzantine betrothed of Baldwin III.

As far as I've read, William only mentions Agnes of Courtenay in the context of the annulment of her marriage to Amalric; as one of Amalric's chief character flaws the chronicler mentions that the king was a philanderer who "is said to have abandoned himself without restraint to the sins of the flesh and to have seduced married women" (A History of Deeds Done Beyond the Sea, Book XIX), which, by extension, implies Agnes to be the 'betrayed wife' in the way she is so often depicted in modern fiction. William actually goes on to throw quite a bit of shade on her in his recounting of these events, emphasising her two incestous marriages:

"After the death of his brother, however, when Amaury claimed the kingdom devolving upon him by hereditary right, he was forced to put away his wife [...], for it was claimed that they were within the fourth degree of blood relationship, a fact which was later solemnly attested in the face of the church by relatives common to both. An annulment [...] was pronounced, therefore, and the marriage dissolved [...]. Amaury remained unmarried for a time, but Agnes at once united herself in the bonds of matrimony with the noble and illustrious man, Hugh d'Ibelin, son of the older Balian. [...] After Hugh's death and while Amaury was still living, Agnes entered into the same bonds of affection with Renaud of Sidon, son of Gerard. This alliance is said to have been not less illegal than her former relation to King Amaury. For Gerard, the father of Renaud, a blood relation of both as he certainly was, established by his sworn statement the consanguinity of these two [...]. A second annulment consequently followed [...]." (Book XIX)

Ernoul, too, goes on to slander Agnes in his Chronique, accusing her of being an "immoral woman" - which, as Helen J. Nicholson writes, was very likely a result of later political rivalries and "complaints about Agnes's influence over her son" (35).

Of Joscelin III of Courtenay, Agnes' brother and Sibylla's uncle, likewise no description survives. William of Tyre spent quite some ink detailing the deeds of Joscelin's grandfather and father, praising the character of the former but noting about the latter that he "was far inferior to his father in character [...]: a lazy, idle man, given over to low and dissolute pleasures, one who spurned good ways and followed base pursuits" (Book XVII). This Joscelin II (who died in captivity in Aleppo in the late 1150s) was the man who lost the County of Edessa first to the Muslim forces of Zengi 1144, then again to Zengi's son Nur ad-Din in 1146. Thus, Joscelin III, being Count of Edessa only by title, had effectively no lands to rule over and from which to gain income. But he came south to the Kingdom of Jerusalem after Agnes had married Amalric, and the king granted him some land and income around Acre (Nicholson 34). Like Raymond III of Tripoli, Joscelin was captured by Nur ad-Din during the Battle of Harim in 1164, and only released in 1176, and went on to marry a sister of Stephanie of Milly (who was the wife of Reynald of Châtillon). He also became the guardian of Baldwin V in 1185 while Raymond served as the boy's regent.

As for Sibylla, I shall give you Helen J. Nicholson's two cents on the situation because she writes about her far more succintly than I could:

"Unlike her father King Amaury of Jerusalem, her younger brother King Baldwin IV, or her cousin King Henry II of England, no contemporary who saw her described Sybil's physical appearance, so we do not know whether she was (like her father) tall, overweight, with an attractive face, bright eyes, an aquiline nose and yellow hair, or (like her little brother) simply attractive for her age, or (like her cousin) of above medium height, strongly built, with freckles and blue-grey eyes. We also do not know whether she shared any of her father's or brother's personality traits: whether (like her father) she spoke with a slight speech impediment, had a sharp mind and was able to accurately recall what she had heard, enjoyed hearing about history and was always ready to argue a point, or (like her brother) was good at riding, with a tenacious memory and a sharp mind, loving conversation, thrifty, but with a stammer. Sybil's contemporaries scarcely ever ascribed any emotion to her: only her tears of submission when she was humbling herself before Saladin to request the release of her husband Guy after the surrender of Jerusalem early in October 1187, and her tears of joy when she met Guy after Saladin released him in early summer 1188. Such tears were an appropriate emotion for a loving wife. [...]

The difficulty of establishing women's actual deeds and authority from contemporary narrative accounts, which insisted that respectable women should not hold authority of take an active role in society except in certain limited roles (typically as devoted wife or mother), is familiar to all historians who have attempted to study the history of women. The narrative commentaries on Sybil's career present modern readers with the additional problem that their gendered expectations were further filtered through the distorting lens of the complex political situation in the kingdom of Jerusalem. Those commentators who wrote after Saladin's victory at Hattin on 4 July 1187 and his capture of Jerusalem on 2 October 1187 also sought to assign blame or credit for these events and adjusted their accounts accordingly." (8ff.)

Works Cited:

Helen J. Nicholson: Sybil, Queen of Jerusalem, 1186-1190. Routledge, 2022.

Emily Atwater Babcock & A.C. Krey (translators): A History of Deeds Done Beyond the Sea by William, Archbishop of Tyre. Colombia University Press, 1943.