THAIS  , a

Greek courtesan, who lived during the time of Alexander the Great . She accompanied him on his Asiatic campaign, and is chiefly known from the story which represents her as having persuaded the conqueror to set fire to the city of Persepolis . This anecdote forms the subject of Dryden's Ode to Saint Cecilia's Day . But its authenticity is doubtful, since it is based upon the authority of Cleitarchus, one of the least trustworthy of the historians of Alexander . Thais subsequently became the wife of Ptolemy Lagus, king of Egypt . Numerous anecdotes and witticisms attributed to her will be found in Athenaeus . See Diod . Sic. xvii . 72; Plutarch, Alexander, 38; Athenaeus xiii . 576, 585; Quintus Curtiusv . 7 .