Is this the escort of Alexander the Great? After 2,300 years, the grave of a courtesan who may have seduced the Macedonian king is discovered

The grave of a courtesan who seduced the elite “during the campaigns of Alexander the Great” has been discovered after 2,300 years.

It was found south of Jerusalem, Israel, and contained the cremated remains of a young woman and a rare box mirror that looks “like it was made yesterday.”

Experts say she was a hetaira – a high-class escort from ancient Greece who offered not only sex but also companionship and intellectual stimulation to elite clients.

And she may have practiced her profession accompanying the armies of Alexander the Great or those who fought for his vast empire after the conqueror’s death.

The discovery, detailed in a new study, is believed to be the first Hetairai tomb ever found.

The grave of a courtesan who seduced the elite “during the campaigns of Alexander the Great” has been discovered after 2,300 years

Experts say she was a hetaira – a high-class escort from ancient Greece who offered not only sex but also companionship and intellectual stimulation to elite clients. And she may have plied her trade accompanying the armies of Alexander the Great (depicted in this mosaic found in Pompeii) or those who fought for his vast empire after the conqueror’s death

Experts say she was a hetaira (pictured) – a high-class escort from ancient Greece who offered not only sex but also companionship and intellectual stimulation to elite clients

Co-author Guy Stiebel, an archaeologist at Tel Aviv University, said it also provides the earliest evidence of cremation found in Israel, dating to the Hellenistic period.

The study concludes: “It is most likely the tomb of a woman of Greek origin who accompanied a high-ranking member of the Hellenistic army or government during the campaigns of Alexander the Great or, more likely, during the wars of the Diadochi (successors).” ‘

Dr. Stiebel said the mysterious nature of the grave initially raised questions.

He said: “The most stimulating question was: What is the grave of a Greek woman doing on the road leading to Jerusalem, far from any place or settlement of that period?”

“We were particularly fascinated by the tomb, especially given the fact that archaeological information about Jerusalem and its surroundings in the early Hellenistic period is very poor.”

The rare box mirror proved crucial to solving the mystery.

Liat Oz, who led the excavation for the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) and was also a co-author of the new study, emphasized how exclusive the object was.

She said: “This is only the second mirror of its kind discovered in Israel so far.”

“And in total there are only 63 mirrors of this type known in the Hellenistic world.”

“The quality of the mirror is such that it was kept in excellent condition and looked like it was made just yesterday.”

It was found south of Jerusalem, Israel, and contained the cremated remains of a young woman, as well as a rare box mirror (pictured) that looks “like it was made yesterday.”

The researchers revealed that such mirrors were usually associated with Greek women and were often decorated with idealized women or goddesses such as Aphrodite – the goddess of love

The researchers revealed that such mirrors were usually associated with Greek women and were often decorated with idealized women or goddesses such as Aphrodite – the goddess of love.

They also noted that a woman could receive one as a dowry before her wedding or, if it was a hetaira, as a gift from a client.

But the grave’s roadside location and distance from a settlement suggested that the deceased accompanied an army on the way – something Greek wives rarely did.

Therefore, they concluded that the tomb belonged to a Hetaira.

Although the authors emphasized that hetairai were not purely sexual figures – some became common-law wives for their clients and inspired famous works of art that were even displayed in temples.

Experts believe the remains date back to the late 4th or early 3rd century BC. It goes back to the 1st century BC, when the place was still far from any settlement – although today it is not far from Kibbutz Ramat Rachel.

Dr. Stiebel said future tests could reveal exactly whose army was escorting the woman.

He said: “There are several possibilities, ranging from the time of Alexander through the Diadochi to the first Syrian wars.”

“There are various clues for each in both the archaeological and historical records.

The grave’s roadside location and distance from a settlement suggested that the deceased accompanied an army on the way – something Greek women rarely did

The tomb was discovered in Talpiot, which is south of Jerusalem

“It is still too early to determine the exact ruler.”

“We hope that archaeometallurgical testing in the near future will shed more light on the history of this fascinating burial and mirror.”

IAA director Eli Escusido said: “This is an example of combining archeology and research at the highest level.”

“Studying a seemingly simple object leads us to a new understanding and narrative that opens a window into a forgotten and vanished ancient world.”

“Nowadays researchers are using more technology to extract more information, and perhaps we can get to know this lady and her culture better.”

WHO WAS ALEXANDER THE GREAT?

Alexander III of Macedonia was founded in July 356 BC. Born in Pella, the ancient capital of Macedonia.

He died in June 323 BC. BC in Babylon from a fever.

Alexander led an army through the Persian territories of Asia Minor, Syria and Egypt, conquering the country along the way.

Alexander III of Macedonia was founded in July 356 BC. Born in Pella, the ancient capital of Macedonia

His greatest victory came at the Battle of Gaugamela in what is now northern Iraq in 331 BC. BC, and he is said to have never suffered defeat during his wanderings through these Persian territories.

This led to him becoming known as Alexander the Great.

After this battle at Gaugamela, Alexander led his army another 11,000 miles (17,700 km), founded over 70 cities and created an empire that spanned three continents.

This stretched from Greece in the west, Egypt in the south, the Danube in the north and the Indian Punjab in the east.

Alexander was buried in Egypt, but it is believed his body was moved to prevent looting.

His fellow kings were traditionally buried in a cemetery near Vergina, far to the west.

The richly furnished tomb of Alexander’s father Philip II was discovered in the 1970s.