The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire · Character
Helena
Also known as Saint Helena, Flavia Julia Helena, Helena of Constantinople
- Supporting
- First seen · Book 1 · Ch. 50
There's a quiet dignity to this woman of middle years, her presence suggesting both the warmth of an innkeeper's daughter and the gravity of imperial connection. Her bearing carries the weight of recent spiritual transformation, eyes reflecting both credulity and genuine feeling.
- Gender
- female
- Age
- Middle-aged
- First appears
- Book 1 · Ch. 50
- Books
- 1
Helena began as the daughter of an innkeeper whose life changed dramatically when she bore Constantine to Constantius. Divorced for political reasons, she later received Christian education from her son and became Empress Helena Augusta. Her example would authorize Christian pilgrimage to Jerusalem, uniting the credulity of age with the warm feelings of recent conversion, while she lamented the fate of her grandson Crispus.
Description
A middle-aged woman whose bearing reflects both humble origins and imperial elevation, wearing the regalia of an empress adorned with Christian symbols. Her features show the passage of years combined with the warmth of recent spiritual awakening, her presence suggesting both maternal tenderness and the authority of her position as mother of Constantine.
Story so far
BOOK 1The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire / Table of Contents with links in the HTML file to the two Project Gutenberg editions (12 volumes)
Appearances
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