Julia Hillner
@writinghelena.bsky.social
Writing about imperial women to understand late antiquity:
history - ideology - dynasty - violence - agency - memory
Also working on: crime, punishment, prosopography, digital humanities, and the city of Rome
@dependencybonn.de
history - ideology - dynasty - violence - agency - memory
Also working on: crime, punishment, prosopography, digital humanities, and the city of Rome
@dependencybonn.de
Although Uta is the star here, I am more intrigued by the female founder figures who appear in Naumburg cathedral’s coir without a husband or male companion: above all, so-called “Gerburg”, not a nun, perhaps a widow?
November 23, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Although Uta is the star here, I am more intrigued by the female founder figures who appear in Naumburg cathedral’s coir without a husband or male companion: above all, so-called “Gerburg”, not a nun, perhaps a widow?
Reveal
Apparently Uta was the model.
She herself was a countess at Naumburg in the 11th century and one of the founders of this beautiful cathedral who were rather unusually commemorated in its choir.
image from here:
static.wikia.nocookie.net/dis/images/d...
Apparently Uta was the model.
She herself was a countess at Naumburg in the 11th century and one of the founders of this beautiful cathedral who were rather unusually commemorated in its choir.
image from here:
static.wikia.nocookie.net/dis/images/d...
November 23, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Reveal
Apparently Uta was the model.
She herself was a countess at Naumburg in the 11th century and one of the founders of this beautiful cathedral who were rather unusually commemorated in its choir.
image from here:
static.wikia.nocookie.net/dis/images/d...
Apparently Uta was the model.
She herself was a countess at Naumburg in the 11th century and one of the founders of this beautiful cathedral who were rather unusually commemorated in its choir.
image from here:
static.wikia.nocookie.net/dis/images/d...
Up close with Uta at Naumburg cathedral today, aka the “most beautiful woman” of the Middle Ages.
Remind you of someone?
Remind you of someone?
November 23, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Up close with Uta at Naumburg cathedral today, aka the “most beautiful woman” of the Middle Ages.
Remind you of someone?
Remind you of someone?
Just submitted a review of Wolfram Kinzig's amazing book A History of Early Christian Creeds.
It was such a joy reading it and discussing it back in the summer at the book launch.
Go read it or perhaps, given the length, browse it - you will never think about the Nicene creed in the same way again.
It was such a joy reading it and discussing it back in the summer at the book launch.
Go read it or perhaps, given the length, browse it - you will never think about the Nicene creed in the same way again.
October 16, 2025 at 1:43 PM
Just submitted a review of Wolfram Kinzig's amazing book A History of Early Christian Creeds.
It was such a joy reading it and discussing it back in the summer at the book launch.
Go read it or perhaps, given the length, browse it - you will never think about the Nicene creed in the same way again.
It was such a joy reading it and discussing it back in the summer at the book launch.
Go read it or perhaps, given the length, browse it - you will never think about the Nicene creed in the same way again.
And here some objects from a probably royal Thuringian female chariot burial that has been associated with Radegund’s mum, wife of Bertachar.
Not sure these are originals though as they seem very shiny.
Also from Stadtmuseum Erfurt
Not sure these are originals though as they seem very shiny.
Also from Stadtmuseum Erfurt
October 4, 2025 at 1:34 PM
And here some objects from a probably royal Thuringian female chariot burial that has been associated with Radegund’s mum, wife of Bertachar.
Not sure these are originals though as they seem very shiny.
Also from Stadtmuseum Erfurt
Not sure these are originals though as they seem very shiny.
Also from Stadtmuseum Erfurt
Continuing my quest to trace postroman connections through grave goods associated with royal wives.
Here some objects from Ostrogothic Italy found in then-Thuringia, perhaps arrived there when or after Theoderic’s niece Amalaberga married Thuringian king Hermanifrid in 507
Now in Stadtmuseum Erfurt
Here some objects from Ostrogothic Italy found in then-Thuringia, perhaps arrived there when or after Theoderic’s niece Amalaberga married Thuringian king Hermanifrid in 507
Now in Stadtmuseum Erfurt
October 4, 2025 at 1:25 PM
Continuing my quest to trace postroman connections through grave goods associated with royal wives.
Here some objects from Ostrogothic Italy found in then-Thuringia, perhaps arrived there when or after Theoderic’s niece Amalaberga married Thuringian king Hermanifrid in 507
Now in Stadtmuseum Erfurt
Here some objects from Ostrogothic Italy found in then-Thuringia, perhaps arrived there when or after Theoderic’s niece Amalaberga married Thuringian king Hermanifrid in 507
Now in Stadtmuseum Erfurt
Today the mail delivered this amazing book about Helena that its author, Jonathan Hibbs, kindly sent me. Published in 2005 it is partly biography, partly travelogue and was sadly unbeknown to me until now.
September 25, 2025 at 12:19 PM
Today the mail delivered this amazing book about Helena that its author, Jonathan Hibbs, kindly sent me. Published in 2005 it is partly biography, partly travelogue and was sadly unbeknown to me until now.
Now at the round table on how we can and should study strong asymmetrical dependency in past and present organised by our very own @dependencybonn.de, in the amazing surroundings of Bonn’s Schlosskirche where Beethoven learned his trade.
September 17, 2025 at 10:40 AM
Now at the round table on how we can and should study strong asymmetrical dependency in past and present organised by our very own @dependencybonn.de, in the amazing surroundings of Bonn’s Schlosskirche where Beethoven learned his trade.
We had a great discussion this morning about past and current power dynamics underlying the so-called “flagship” of the profession, the historical journal. Many thanks to our panel members and our very interested audience!
September 17, 2025 at 10:16 AM
We had a great discussion this morning about past and current power dynamics underlying the so-called “flagship” of the profession, the historical journal. Many thanks to our panel members and our very interested audience!
And now attention, late antique people!
Today in Trier I was shown the Trier Ivory up close,
from the front and
- unseen before, at least by me-
from the back!
Note the strange markings, apparently by the craftsmen, and the hole for the elephant’s nerve reaching into the tusk
Today in Trier I was shown the Trier Ivory up close,
from the front and
- unseen before, at least by me-
from the back!
Note the strange markings, apparently by the craftsmen, and the hole for the elephant’s nerve reaching into the tusk
August 18, 2025 at 4:36 PM
And now attention, late antique people!
Today in Trier I was shown the Trier Ivory up close,
from the front and
- unseen before, at least by me-
from the back!
Note the strange markings, apparently by the craftsmen, and the hole for the elephant’s nerve reaching into the tusk
Today in Trier I was shown the Trier Ivory up close,
from the front and
- unseen before, at least by me-
from the back!
Note the strange markings, apparently by the craftsmen, and the hole for the elephant’s nerve reaching into the tusk
Today is Helena’s Catholic feast day!
To celebrate I’ve been to Trier to witness the display of her relics, stolen from her mausoleum in Rome in the ninth century.
To celebrate I’ve been to Trier to witness the display of her relics, stolen from her mausoleum in Rome in the ninth century.
August 18, 2025 at 4:24 PM
Today is Helena’s Catholic feast day!
To celebrate I’ve been to Trier to witness the display of her relics, stolen from her mausoleum in Rome in the ninth century.
To celebrate I’ve been to Trier to witness the display of her relics, stolen from her mausoleum in Rome in the ninth century.
And I also return to find proofs...all 1047 pages.
August 15, 2025 at 9:31 AM
And I also return to find proofs...all 1047 pages.
Back in my office I find this book in my mail.
The field of “ancient carceral studies” really is growing (although in truth has been vibrant outside the Anglophone world for a long time already).
The field of “ancient carceral studies” really is growing (although in truth has been vibrant outside the Anglophone world for a long time already).
August 15, 2025 at 7:54 AM
Back in my office I find this book in my mail.
The field of “ancient carceral studies” really is growing (although in truth has been vibrant outside the Anglophone world for a long time already).
The field of “ancient carceral studies” really is growing (although in truth has been vibrant outside the Anglophone world for a long time already).
On holiday, I reread Umberto Eco‘s Il nome della rosa.
What an extraordinary, mind boggling, deeply erudite, haunting, and exceedingly funny book this continues to be.
And an ode to the Middle Ages, a beautiful, learned and brutal age that is our mirror and, as Eco says, “our common childhood”.
What an extraordinary, mind boggling, deeply erudite, haunting, and exceedingly funny book this continues to be.
And an ode to the Middle Ages, a beautiful, learned and brutal age that is our mirror and, as Eco says, “our common childhood”.
August 15, 2025 at 7:14 AM
On holiday, I reread Umberto Eco‘s Il nome della rosa.
What an extraordinary, mind boggling, deeply erudite, haunting, and exceedingly funny book this continues to be.
And an ode to the Middle Ages, a beautiful, learned and brutal age that is our mirror and, as Eco says, “our common childhood”.
What an extraordinary, mind boggling, deeply erudite, haunting, and exceedingly funny book this continues to be.
And an ode to the Middle Ages, a beautiful, learned and brutal age that is our mirror and, as Eco says, “our common childhood”.
I think the guy in the dark robe is a presbyter - this is the inscription next to him
August 14, 2025 at 1:44 PM
I think the guy in the dark robe is a presbyter - this is the inscription next to him
Absolutely stunning mosaics in the rotunda of Galerius in Thessaloniki. Probably 5th century?
August 14, 2025 at 1:17 PM
Absolutely stunning mosaics in the rotunda of Galerius in Thessaloniki. Probably 5th century?
Via Egnatia from above and from below.
The latter courtesy of the brand new metro in Thessaloniki.
The latter courtesy of the brand new metro in Thessaloniki.
August 14, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Via Egnatia from above and from below.
The latter courtesy of the brand new metro in Thessaloniki.
The latter courtesy of the brand new metro in Thessaloniki.
Visiting my favourite empress at the Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki.
The small arch of Galerius features portrait busts of the emperor and what probably used to be a portrait of his wife, Valeria Augusta.
After Licinius executed her for treason in this very city it was recarved as a Tyche.
The small arch of Galerius features portrait busts of the emperor and what probably used to be a portrait of his wife, Valeria Augusta.
After Licinius executed her for treason in this very city it was recarved as a Tyche.
August 7, 2025 at 6:40 AM
Visiting my favourite empress at the Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki.
The small arch of Galerius features portrait busts of the emperor and what probably used to be a portrait of his wife, Valeria Augusta.
After Licinius executed her for treason in this very city it was recarved as a Tyche.
The small arch of Galerius features portrait busts of the emperor and what probably used to be a portrait of his wife, Valeria Augusta.
After Licinius executed her for treason in this very city it was recarved as a Tyche.
The excavations underneath of the previous churches, ad sanctos burials and the necropolis are incredible. And include this amazing painted burial chamber from the third century
July 30, 2025 at 3:00 PM
The excavations underneath of the previous churches, ad sanctos burials and the necropolis are incredible. And include this amazing painted burial chamber from the third century
Today’s church on this site is the fourth building, dating to the sixth century. 2/
July 30, 2025 at 2:56 PM
Today’s church on this site is the fourth building, dating to the sixth century. 2/
Mosaic floor of the late antique church on the eastern necropolis of Serdica. The floor dates from the early fifth century, the church itself from the first half of the fourth. Perhaps the fraught council of Serdica was held here in 343. 1/
July 30, 2025 at 2:53 PM
Mosaic floor of the late antique church on the eastern necropolis of Serdica. The floor dates from the early fifth century, the church itself from the first half of the fourth. Perhaps the fraught council of Serdica was held here in 343. 1/
More ancient Serdica; Banya Bashi Mosque in the background
July 29, 2025 at 3:15 PM
More ancient Serdica; Banya Bashi Mosque in the background
Sveti Georgi, a fourth-century church, with parts of ancient Serdica, allegedly Constantine‘s favourite city.
July 29, 2025 at 11:26 AM
Sveti Georgi, a fourth-century church, with parts of ancient Serdica, allegedly Constantine‘s favourite city.
No glimmering, just Belgian countryside, but I am on my way as well, after a slight panic about making my connection in Brussels! See you soon!
July 7, 2025 at 11:56 AM
No glimmering, just Belgian countryside, but I am on my way as well, after a slight panic about making my connection in Brussels! See you soon!
Inadvertently patristics coded at the pool 🏊♀️
(One of the many great things about Bonn: public lidos)
(One of the many great things about Bonn: public lidos)
June 22, 2025 at 4:21 PM
Inadvertently patristics coded at the pool 🏊♀️
(One of the many great things about Bonn: public lidos)
(One of the many great things about Bonn: public lidos)