Quote by Anna Komnene: “Time, as it flows, sweeps onward in its irresistible stream all things that come to birth.”

This quote reflects on the unstoppable nature of time, suggesting that everything created eventually fades or changes because of time's constant movement. It highlights the fleeting quality of existence, making us consider life's temporary aspects.

Komnene was writing The Alexiad in the mid-12th century, recounting the reign of her father Emperor Alexios I Komnenos, a period of intense political and military upheaval for the Byzantine Empire. Her work aimed to preserve the memory of a past era.

Byzantine princess and historian born in 1083, the eldest daughter of Emperor Alexios I. Her Alexiad, completed around 1148, is a detailed account of her father's reign and the First Crusade. It is the only major medieval historical work written by a woman and remains a foundational text of Byzantine studies.