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Description
The Byzantine Empress Zoë (r. 1042-1050), called Porphyrogenita, meaning "Born in the Purple," given the circumstances of her birth to a reigning emperor, and the nature of her birth, had a rather tumultuous life, first as the wife of Emperor Romanos III Argyros, who was found dead in his bath in 1034, poisoned, it is supposed, by Zoë, her lover Michael the Paphlagonian, or because of both - no evidence can prove that they did murder Romanos. Regardless, Zoë ensured the place of her new husband Michael on the throne, and at her side, as Michael IV.

Before that, and while Romanos still lived, Zoë and Michael had a flagrant, passionate affair. They are depicted here, in this first image, sharing in their illicit love.

Description
The Byzantine Empress Zoë (r. 1042-1050), called Porphyrogenita, meaning "Born in the Purple," given the circumstances of her birth to a reigning emperor, and the nature of her birth, had a rather tumultuous life, first as the wife of Emperor Romanos III Argyros, who was found dead in his bath in 1034, poisoned, it is supposed, by Zoë, her lover Michael the Paphlagonian, or because of both - no evidence can prove that they did murder Romanos. Regardless, Zoë ensured the place of her new husband Michael on the throne, and at her side, as Michael IV.

Before that, and while Romanos still lived, Zoë and Michael had a flagrant, passionate affair. They are depicted here, in this first image, sharing in their illicit love.