She understood the passions and the cruelty of men; she knew the
despair and the strength of women. She was born in the gutter, raised
on the sands of the Hippodrome arena, grew up with the gritty, grim
world of chariot racers, and animal keepers, and courtesans. Step by
step she clawed her way into the halls of power, and ruled an empire
of chaos and triumph and tragedy at the side of the only man who truly
appreciated her for what she was.
Empress
