Making Bishop Theodora Male

8th-century mosaic in St. Zeno’s chapel in Rome

Four women depicted.

A square halo meant she was still alive.

In Latin, EPISCOPA is the feminine form

of the masculine EPISCOPUS, or “Bishop.”

“THEODO” is masculine-gendered

in Latin . . .

. . . but it is not a man’s name in Latin.

Scholars believe originally this name was “THEDORA”—

a woman’s name.

Later, new gold tesserae were used to cover up the “RA.”

This made the female bishop’s name

masculine.

“EPISCOPATHEODORA”

Bishop Theodora

Art as Text

By Ally Kateusz

In honor of Karen Jo Torjesen