In Athens, during the winter of 1853, Edmond Abou, a French writer and academic, extremely excited, describes in detail the beauty of the woman he has just met in the salon of the Duchess of Placentia. Although some years have passed since her youth, the woman in front of him is a living painting of Renaissance aesthetics.

Her elegant dress hugs the curves of her body promisingly, while she relaxes on one end of the sofa. The writer cannot resist imagining her curvaceous torso hidden under the folds of her silk skirt, while carefully observing the light movements of her white fingers as she speaks. He has already formed a vivid description of the details of her face in his mind.

The beauty of the woman he observes has resonated throughout Europe and her fame has scandalized the social circles of the time, from aristocrats to commoners. Her presence in Greece is due to a passionate love. The myth that connects her to Athens stems from this love affair. However, there is still one element that connects her to Greece, and that is her former lover, Louis I of Bavaria. Ludovikos is the one who gave it the name “Ianthi”, inspired by the mythical story of Ianthi which is associated with beauty and flowers. She has also asked the court artist to paint her and place her portrait in the Gallery of Beauties of the palace complex.

Louis’ “Ianthi” is Jane Elizabeth Digby, an aristocrat from England. When she arrives in Greece, she herself is in her fifth decade of life and has already experienced several passionate relationships, three unsuccessful marriages and has become a mother of six children.

Her life is filled with many adventures. Her life is mainly a constant search for love, with a commitment that overflows with passion. Her love is rekindled with each new relationship that develops, knowing no barriers. Although the society of the time is demanding, she herself is not forced to conform, remaining true to herself. Although her education is governed by traditional standards for women, she resists and educates herself like boys. He exhibits a passion for knowledge and foreign languages, while at the same time he boldly embraces sports, with particular skill in horse riding.

Jane radiates a rare beauty, which from the age of 16 manages to attract the eyes of both men and women, conquering the hall with her first official appearance at the royal court of King George IV.

A few months after her appearance at the palace, Jane accepts a marriage proposal from Edward Law, a man of intense charm and heart-winning tendencies. Feeling this flattering interest, she decides to accept the proposal. However, everyday life with Edward is not what she had imagined. Law is constantly busy with his political duties, and is often absent from home. This distance creates a sense of isolation and sadness for Jane.

In May 1828, at a social event hosted by Princess Theresa, Jane meets the young official Felix Ludwig Johann, Prince of Schwarzenberg, Bohemia. This meeting upsets her feelings. This acquaintance quickly turns into an illicit and passionate love affair. Entering this new relationship becomes the most decisive move of her life, as she publicizes her extramarital affair.

Felix abandons Jane, who is three months pregnant, and leaves. Soon he acquires the title of “prince of the kingdom of old men”, with the prevalence of a scandal. Her husband, displeased by his wife’s betrayal, files for divorce. At the same time, he calls for the removal of Felix Schwarzenberg, who is forced to leave London.

Difficulties continue, as the child Jane is expecting dies at an early age. Although they seek reconnection, life circumstances seem to be against them. They manage to find each other again, and the result of this reunion is the birth of another child from their love, Felix, the youngest. However, fate is not kind to this child. From an early age, he is forced to withdraw and move in the halls of high society, especially in the palace of Louis I. His presence exudes charm and impresses the king. The narratives of the time manage to capture the “hidden passion” that unites them. During a ball at the palace, Jane meets Baron Karl von Weningen and eventually decides to marry him.

Jane’s life goes from calm to boring. Despite the baron’s desperate efforts to win her over, she never feels the amorous flame for him. A change occurs when, at a masquerade ball in Munich, she meets a young Greek, Count Spyros Theotokis.

Impressed by his hometown costume and lively presence, Jane feels her heart being stolen. Their relationship develops with intense passion. As they follow the rules of the time, the baron challenges the young earl to a duel and loses. Jane leaves her children behind with the baron and runs away with her lover Spyros.

Athens becomes their new home, however, it doesn’t take long to cause a new scandal. Having won the love of the King of Bavaria, Louis I, he now attracts the attention of his son, King of Greece, Otto. Rumor has it that she is the mistress of 30-year-old Othon. In 1846, Jane decides to leave the complicated situation behind and travel to France with her 6-year-old son in order to meet her mother. However, at that moment, fate has another unpleasant surprise in store for her. While playing on the edge of a staircase, her son, Leonidas, falls and loses his life in front of his mother’s eyes.

Her travel experiences lead her to explore Greece. During one such tour, he arrives in Lamia, where he meets the guard of the city, Christodoulos Hadjipetros. Their meeting creates a strong connection, and Jane decides to follow his life. Despite her relationship with the Greek eupatridis, Jane cannot escape the shadows of her previous relationship. This chapter of her life is closed for good when she finds him in bed with the maid. In an inelegant way, she decides to kick them both out of her house, putting an end to this persistent relationship.

Feeling betrayed once again, Jane seeks out new experiences and places she has yet to experience. At the same time, she needs to find a new, Arabian horse for her riding hobby. This time, he decides to head east. In the desert outside Syria, he meets a caravan of Bedouins and asks if they have a horse to sell. The young sheikh of the tribe, Mezuel el Mezrab, tells her that he has what she is looking for.

However, the horse is wild and difficult to control. She and he come from different cultures, and their age difference – she’s 46 and he’s 26 – shows the challenging nature of their connection. Despite this, Jane is fascinated by the young Bedouin’s passion and independence. Their love is strongly expressed, but she sets some conditions. He declares that he will not accept the status of polygamy, which allows Mezuel to have many wives.

Finding happiness in Mezuel’s face, Jane decides that this is the right choice for her. It is a relationship based on respect, love and mutual companionship. She finds the peace she’s been looking for and, after 28 years of unsatisfying marriage, closes her eyes with a sense of flexibility. Jane Digby dies of dysentery on 11 August 1881 in Damascus, aged 74, and is buried in the local Protestant cemetery.

Jane Digby’s adventurous search for passion and love from West to East has been a source of inspiration for writers and screenwriters.

In a play inspired by Jane’s life, Balzac called that course “the whirlwind of the desert.” A dynamic force that was born in those lands and dissipated there.