The "mistress of Athens," as she was called, the legendary courtesan Gabriella, may have been famous for her beauty among the male crowds of the city, but she became primarily known for her character, ethics, and philanthropic work, elements that made her neighbors adore her until the end.
People who knew her well speak of a deeply religious and absolutely independent woman who helped many children go to school and paid the medical expenses of her poor neighbors. She continued to work until 1991, at the age of 75, at which point she met a tragic end from strangulation. The perpetrators entered her home as customers and killed her without leaving any trace. The police were never able to apprehend them.
In her autobiography, she talks about her childhood, the men in her life, and her professional activities, for which she never felt inferior. Among other things, she mentions that she offered men affection and warmth, and that anyone who came to her home found comfort, as she became friends with her clients, engaged in conversations, and many confided their personal problems to her.
She was also never in a hurry, never intimidated them, and never spoke to them harshly. Gabriella never ceased to feel human, although many times she acted in ways that were not commonly accepted. However, this is how people who feel sincere first with themselves and then with others behave...
