Eudocia: Empress, philanthropist, and one of the great
builders of ancient Palestine. The daughter of the Athenian sophist Leontios,
originally named Athenais, she converted to Christianity before marrying Theodosios
II in 421. In 441/442, she was separated from the emperor, but was allowed to
retain her status as empress, and to settle in Jerusalem, where she died in 460.