Bilistiche

Who is Bilistiche?

Bilistiche or Belistiche was a Hellenistic courtesan of uncertain origin. According to Pausanias, she was a Macedonian; according to Athenaeus, an Argive; according to Plutarch, a foreign slave bought from the marketplace. She won the tethrippon and synoris horse races in the 264 BC Olympic Games. She became a mistress of Ptolemy II Philadelphus and was deified by him as Aphrodite Bilistiche. According to Clement of Alexandria, she was buried under the shrine of Sarapis in Alexandria.