The inscription on this drawing identifies the figure as Cassandra. In Greek mythology Cassandra's beauty caused Apollo to fall in love with her and grant her the gift of prophecy. However, because she did not return his love, Apollo took away Cassandra's powers of persuasion, so that no-one would believe her predictions of catastrophe. Edward Burne-Jones's model here is Maria Zambaco (born Cassavetti), a first cousin of Constantine Ionides. Zambaco was a sculptor, but remains better known as a model for other artists. Her features appear repeatedly in the paintings of Burne-Jones, whose affair with the tempestuous Zambaco in the late 1860s came close to wrecking his domestic and artistic existence.
Rossetti letter to Madox Brown 23 January 1869: Poor Ned's affairs have come to a smash altogether, and he and Topsy, after the most dreadful to-do, started for Rome suddenly, leaving the Greek damsel beating up the quarters of all his friends for him and howling like Cassandra. Georgie stayed behind. I hear to-day however that Top and Ned got no further than Dover, Ned being so dreadfully ill that they will probably have to return to London.
In January 1869 his wife Georgina found a letter from Maria in his clothing and Burne-Jones reluctantly ended the affair.