Thais of Athens with torch by Joshua Reynolds 1781

"When the king [Alexander] had caught fire at their words, all leaped up from their couches and passed the word along to form a victory procession in honour of Dionysus. Promptly many torches were gathered. Female musicians were present at the banquet, so the king led them all out for the comus to the sound of voices and flutes and pipes, Thaïs the courtesan leading the whole performance. She was the first, after the king, to hurl her blazing torch into the palace. As the others all did the same, immediately the entire palace area was consumed, so great was the conflagration. It was remarkable that the impious act of Xerxes, king of the Persians, against the acropolis at Athens should have been repaid in kind after many years by one woman, a citizen of the land which had suffered it, and in sport." 

- Diodorus of Sicily, Library of World History (XVII.72)

 

Thaïs of Athens with torch by Joshua Reynolds 1781. Current location: Waddesdon Manner.

Bigger resolution but a little blurry.

Source:

https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/676243700266917196/

https://www.stoplusjednicka.cz/anticke-nevestky-prilis-draha-rozkos

 

Quote:

https://www.livius.org/sources/content/diodorus/alexander-sacks-persepolis/