Helena Augusta

Hillner reveals the life of a Roman empress, in all its splendor and danger, conjuring a flesh-and-blood woman where others might only see hints and fragments. Helena Augusta is both a dazzling piece of detective work and a powerful act of the historical imagination. * Kate Cooper, Royal Holloway, University of London *
Using tools developed for feminist historiography, Hillner has retrieved the historical mother of Constantine the Great from the realm of legend. Her reconstruction is engaging, filled with shrewd insight, and well-grounded in ancient sources. She is especially good at using material culture to lead into deeper discussions. Instead of the saintly Helena who discovered the True Cross, we now have a living, breathing person who can teach us a great deal about the history of women in the fourth century. * H. A. Drake, University of California, Santa Barbara *
In many respects this is a great book and a fascinating read...It will rapidly become the standard monograph on Helena. The book's greatest value, however, lies in how Hillner explains the role of Tetrarchic and Constantinian women in dynastic politics. * Jan Willem Drijvers, University of Groningen, Plekos *
In many respects this is a great book and a fascinating read. It does a much better job than previous studies of outlining Helena's life against the background and in the context of political and dynastic entanglements during the Tetrarchy and the reign of Constantine. It will rapidly become the standard monograph on Helena. * Stefan Vranka, Plekos *
This is a very rich and rewarding...book...Offer[s] much to those interested in Roman women and Roman history, those interested in female power, its contingencies and limits. * Journal of Roman Studies *
The study represents a significant advancement in understanding the history of the fourth century AD. Additionally, the study stands out for its meticulous examination of all available literary sources and previous research, as well as for its careful and clear statements on the historical issues of the Constantinian era. Furthermore, the study excels in its precise examination of the archaeological evidence, which is often used as the starting point for individual chapters. Another strength of the work is Hillner's keen focus on the regional contexts of the presentation of imperial female roles and functions... With this research approach, the author consolidates her detailed network and communication analysis, which, as mentioned, proves to be highly productive for the Constantinian era. * Bryn Mawr Classical Review *
A fine study of one of the most famous Christian women... This book is fantastic. Hillner hardly puts a historical foot wrong, combining rigorous command of technical material in a range of sub-disciplines with an understanding of the value and limits of the imagination in historical narrative.... [Hillner] has produced a work that, in both methodology and content, is not just a triumph of gender history, but a model for writing ancient biography in general. * Greece & Rome *
This skillfully researched work has given the full story of the women and men who guided the late empire. * Joyce E. Salisbury, Church History *