[longtermmemmory]

I think the restoration of Agia Sophia would be an excellent litmus test.

[Young Werther]

You final picture shows a mosaic picture of Theodora the Empress. She married Justinian and ruled till her death in 547AD. Although she came from the lowest class she would have great impact on laws and

" Justinian and Theodora set about rebuilding Constantinople in the aftermath of riots staged in 532 ad. The foundations of many structures still existed but the royal couple built on these as well as making grandiose additions, such as Hagia Sophia and Hagia Eirene. Cyril Mango suggests that these two churches are contemporary to one another; and McClanan believes that it was the empress who sponsored Hagia Eirene.[xiii] Because Justinian was consumed with the massive architectural project of Hagia Sophia and numerous other buildings, Theodora oversaw the construction of this imperial church. Thus we can view Eirene’s reconstruction as a token of the power held by Theodora"