# Character and Appearance of Justinian explained — The Secret History

> Chapter companion for The Secret History by Procopius.

## What happens

Procopius provides a scathing portrait of Emperor Justinian, describing him as deceitful, hypocritical, cruel, and easily led to evil, while also noting his average physique and resemblance to the hated Emperor Domitian. He details Justinian's wasteful spending, confiscation of private estates, and indifference to the suffering he causes across the Roman Empire.

## Themes in this chapter

### Hypocrisy and Deception

Justinian is portrayed as deceitful, false, hypocritical, and two-faced, never truthful and skilled in dissembling his thoughts.

### Abuse of Power

Justinian uses his authority to plunder countries, sack cities, enslave nations, confiscate property without cause, and punish based solely on accusations.

### Corruption and Tyranny

The Emperor's rule is characterized by corruption, including spending public money recklessly, accepting bribes, and driving universal poverty through confiscation.

## Character check-ins

### Justinian

Described as villainous, amenable, deceitful, hypocritical, two-faced, cruel, and a liar; he is compared to a moron and a silly ass, and his appearance resembles Domitian.

### Domitian

Justinian's appearance is compared to Domitian, Vespasian's son, who was so hated that his statues were destroyed except for one brass image made by his wife.

### Procopius

The author who attempts to portray Justinian's complex character, noting his own difficulty in fully describing it.

## Key lines

> He was at once villainous and amenable; as people say colloquially, a moron.

Justinian was both wicked and easily led, essentially a fool.

_Procopius emphasizes Justinian's contradictory and foolish nature._

> He was never truthful with anyone, but always guileful in what he said and did, yet easily hoodwinked by any who wanted to deceive him.

Justinian was perpetually dishonest and cunning, yet paradoxically easy to trick.

_Highlights the emperor's deceitfulness and gullibility._

> He was too prone to listen to accusations; and too quick to punish. For he decided such cases without full examination, naming the punishment when he had heard only the accuser's side of the matter.

Justinian readily believed accusers and imposed punishments without a fair hearing.

_Illustrates his unjust and hasty judgment._

> He neither held on to any money himself nor let anyone else keep any: as if his reason were not avarice, but jealousy of those who had riches.

Justinian prevented anyone from retaining wealth, acting out of envy rather than greed.

_Describes his destructive financial policies._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_secret_history_se/chapters/viii-character-and-appearance-of-justinian
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