Campaspes

Campaspes was a courtesan of ancient Greece, famously associated with Alexander the Great. She was born in Thessaly and is primarily known for her beauty and her relationship with Alexander. According to the historian Plutarch, Alexander was so enamored with Campaspes that he gifted her a city and she was the only one of his supposed lovers he allowed to enter his bedchamber.

Another account, from Pliny the Elder, suggests that the painter Apelles was so captivated by Campaspes while painting her portrait that Alexander generously allowed Apelles to keep her. This anecdote is often cited as an example of Alexander's magnanimity. Campaspes is remembered as one of the most famous courtesans of antiquity, her story becoming a symbol of beauty and a testament to Alexander's affection. Her exact fate after her association with Alexander is not well-documented, but she remains a notable figure in ancient Greek history and art.