# Cora — The Tour character guide > Cora in The Tour by Louis Couperus. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Poor Cora, Dear Cora **First appearance:** 0002-i ## Snapshot A Greek slave bought for her beautiful voice, who sings hymns to Aphrodite for a master too grief-stricken to notice she exists. ## Who they are Cora is the gentle singer whose three months of devotion to Lucius have gone entirely unobserved, her songs offered to a man still lost in mourning for Ilia. She asks Thrasyllus whether her voice pleased, and receives only the quiet truth that Lucius hears nothing and nobody. Her patient, unrequited presence — and her eventual place beside Lucius as his wife — makes her the tour's quiet counterweight to Ilia's haunting absence. ## Relationships ### [Publius Lucius Sabinus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/characters/publius_lucius_sabinus) _psychological_ Cora is both fascinated and manipulated by Publius Lucius Sabinus, trapped in a web of his psychological games. ### [Caleb](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/characters/caleb) _romantic_ Caleb and Cora share a deep, forbidden romantic connection, fraught with danger and longing. ### [Catullus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/characters/catullus) _friendship_ Catullus acts as a protective older brother figure to Cora, guiding her through dangerous political waters. ### [Thrasyllus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/characters/thrasyllus) _social_ Cora and Thrasyllus are acquaintances who move in the same social circles but share little trust. ### [Catullus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/characters/catullus) _friendship_ Catullus acts as a protective older brother figure to Cora, guiding her through dangerous political waters. ### [Caleb](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/characters/caleb) _romantic_ Caleb and Cora share a deep, forbidden romantic connection, fraught with danger and longing. ### [Publius Lucius Sabinus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/characters/publius_lucius_sabinus) _psychological_ Cora is both fascinated and manipulated by Publius Lucius Sabinus, trapped in a web of his psychological games. ### [Caleb](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/characters/caleb) _romantic_ Caleb and Cora share a deep, forbidden romantic connection, fraught with danger and longing. ### [Thrasyllus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/characters/thrasyllus) _social_ Cora and Thrasyllus are acquaintances who move in the same social circles but share little trust. ### [Publius Lucius Sabinus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/characters/publius_lucius_sabinus) _psychological_ Cora is both fascinated and manipulated by Publius Lucius Sabinus, trapped in a web of his psychological games. ### [Thrasyllus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/characters/thrasyllus) _social_ Cora and Thrasyllus are acquaintances who move in the same social circles but share little trust. ### [Catullus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/characters/catullus) _friendship_ Catullus acts as a protective older brother figure to Cora, guiding her through dangerous political waters. ## In the story ### [The Tour](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/chapters/the-tour) Lucius's companion, who reacts with awe and emotional depth to the ancient sites. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/chapters/ii) Cora, a Greek slave bought for her voice, sings hymns to Aphrodite hoping to divert Lucius, but he takes no notice; she later examines her own beauty in a mirror. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/chapters/vii) Sings a passionate song to Aphrodite, expressing her unrequited love for Lucius, and joyfully prepares for the festival. ### [The Festival of Serapis at Canopus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/chapters/viii) Sings the Hymn to Aphrodite during the voyage, blushing at Lucius's compliment. ### [The Festival of Serapis at Canopus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/chapters/ix) Her voice rises in the hymn to Serapis during the procession. ### [XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/chapters/xi) Cora sits in the porch, forbidden to sing or play, and listens to Caleb's proposal of marriage and freedom. ### [The Night of Isis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/chapters/xiv) Cora chooses to stay near the barge rather than enjoy her night of liberty, dances for Lucius in the moonlight, and later speaks with Thrasyllus. ### [XIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/chapters/xix) Lucius's slave, a singer and dancer from Cos. Found resting by the rocks, she recounts her childhood in the slave-school, her parents, and her sale to Lucius. She expresses loyalty but Lucius dismisses her words as polite speech. ### [XXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/chapters/xxiii) Her crystal-clear voice is heard singing with harps in the night. ### [XXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/chapters/xxiv) Cora is present among the travelers who hear the sound from the colossus of Memnon. ### [XXV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/chapters/xxv) Cora accompanies the group willingly, singing to calm the fears of the camp with her harp. ### [XXVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/chapters/xxvi) Cora confesses her love for Lucius, begs not to be given to Caleb, and dances for him under the stars. ### [Cape Dire](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/chapters/xxvii) Turns pale at the news; sings a welcome song to the ship. ### [XXVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/chapters/xxviii) Cora is mentioned as Lucius's beloved treasure whom he refuses to give up, despite Caleb's offer to cancel the debt in exchange for her. ### [XXIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/chapters/xxix) Lucius's young wife, boards the ship and is led to her cabin by Lucius. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/characters/cora - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tour_se/characters