Sappho: The Ancient Poetess,Sappho: The Ancient Poetess

Author: Debbie Legare
Published on: Nov 16, 2001

Sappho, the female Greek Poet, was born what is estimated to be around 630 BC. Not much was recorded about her personal history, but it is known that she was the daughter of aristocracy and had three brothers. Her parents, Skamadronymos and Klies, chose a life in the city of Mytilene on the island of Lesbos in the Aegean Sea. It was common that girls that lived on Lesbos in the seventh century received a solid education unlike other parts of Greece. Lesbos was known as an artistic community and drew many in their search for the training they wanted. Sappho was not only rewarded with an education but found her calling in the arts. Being so wonderfully educated, she decided to become an educator herself.

Sappho married a prosperous merchant, Kerhylas of Andros, and together they had a daughter named Cleis. She spent the majority of her time studying but always found time to journey throughout Greece. This was a significant source of inspiration.

Poetry became Sappho’s passion and her reputation began to spread. Her works made her known as a lyrist; one whose poems were performed accompanied by a Lyre. This was often the custom of the time. She not only wrote the poems but also composed the music. She wrote in Aeolic dialect in lyric meter that later became known to writers as the Sapphic Meter, named after Sappho. The lyrical poetry and technique made her a part of the wave of Greek lyrists who wrote from the point of view of the gods and muses instead of the common individual. Aphrodite was one of the goddesses in which she not only admired but also wrote extensively about.

Sappho was the first to write in 1st person, perfecting the love poem, specifically dealing with new love and loss. She was also the first to create short forms of poetry consisting of less than 40 lines, compared to the odes and epics now being written at the time. Her style was considered by most as sensual even erotic primarily in her songs of admiration and yearning. She often wrote about the women that were sent to her for education in the arts. When they would leave to be married, she would write their wedding music. Many of her creations were said to be autobiographical, about her experiences in nature, simplicity of life and passions for and about women, but not all. She often wrote choral hymns and funeral dirges. However, it is still true that her poetry on women’s issues and lives made her notorious. Poetry in ancient times about homosexuality was not condemned since it was often practiced. Sappho became synonymous with the lifestyle on Lesbos and gave birth to the most recognized word for female love- Lesbian. It was later that creative scholars criticized her works. It seemed that preferences and moralities changed and so did the views of the readers. Around 600 BC, Sappho was exhiled from Lesbos because of the political stands of her family and went on to Sicily.

Sappho became so well known and adored by her readers that the island of Lesbos minted coins in her image and rulers desperately wanted to read her works. Plato elevated her from mere mortal status to become known as the 10th muse. Solon, an Athenian ruler and poet asked to be taught one her songs stating “ Because I want to learn it and die.”

Unfortunately only fragments for her works exist today. Over 500 poems and 12,000 lines of verse were penned by Sappho in her lifetime but only about 600 remain. Given her fame, only one of her originals is available in it’s entirely. There is rumored to be as many as 9 volumes of poetry and song about women’s lives, jealousy, emotions and love by Sappho, but after natural disaster, neglect and possibly censorship much was lost. Some even believe that Christian popes and emperors burned her works due to erotic content in the later centuries. Others believe that the documents were merely lost as others were in the Dark and Middle Ages. It wasn’t until the late 19th century that manuscripts were found in the Nile Valley dating back to the 8th century AD. Many were proven to be Sappho's work. Excavations in Egypt unearthed papyruses from the 1st century BC to 10 AD. Some of them were also found to be Sapphos. Strips were used to wrap mummies, stuff animals and wrap coffins. It is still a challenge as they continue to piece together her works of art.

Many translations are available today often offering different approaches. It is incredibly difficult to translate properly because there are only fragments. The translator sometimes may go off in their own imagination or may speculate on where the piece may have been going. This often creates subjects not necessarily intended. Critical content is missing due to broken lines and flow breaks. It is also very hard to translate ancient Greek and know all the technical details of lyricism of the time. Viewpoints are numerous and her work still instills curiousity when those hear about Sappho. She has influenced many modern poets such as Calullus and Swineburn. Her life continues to inspire research and also seems to motivate fictional accounts of her existence.

Sappho was rumored to have committed suicide possibly over a failed affair with a sailor named Phaon. She was also said to have inspired a cult of women who worshipped Aphrodite. Neither has been proven to be true or factual.

When writers and poets speak of ‘The Poetess’, it is Sappho, no question they are speaking about. We are able to possess beauty and emotion over the simplest of things like marble or the complexities of emotion such as love and revolt. She was a woman that was given credit for her works in many literary circles but there are many that still consider her a legend. She is rightly considered to be the first female modern poet. She flourished through ancient times but it is only in our time that she can be completely understood. Sappho is the only female voice and visionary of the ancient worlds that is usually seen only through the eyes of men.

“TO EROS: From all offspring of the earth and heaven, love being the most precious” Sappho,Sappho, the female Greek Poet, was born what is estimated to be around 630 BC. Not much was recorded about her personal history, but it is known that she was the daughter of aristocracy and had three brothers. Her parents, Skamadronymos and Klies, chose a life in the city of Mytilene on the island of Lesbos in the Aegean Sea. It was common that girls that lived on Lesbos in the seventh century received a solid education unlike other parts of Greece. Lesbos was known as an artistic community and drew many in their search for the training they wanted. Sappho was not only rewarded with an education but found her calling in the arts. Being so wonderfully educated, she decided to become an educator herself.

Sappho married a prosperous merchant, Kerhylas of Andros, and together they had a daughter named Cleis. She spent the majority of her time studying but always found time to journey throughout Greece. This was a significant source of inspiration.

Poetry became Sappho’s passion and her reputation began to spread. Her works made her known as a lyrist; one whose poems were performed accompanied by a Lyre. This was often the custom of the time. She not only wrote the poems but also composed the music. She wrote in Aeolic dialect in lyric meter that later became known to writers as the Sapphic Meter, named after Sappho. The lyrical poetry and technique made her a part of the wave of Greek lyrists who wrote from the point of view of the gods and muses instead of the common individual. Aphrodite was one of the goddesses in which she not only admired but also wrote extensively about.

Sappho was the first to write in 1st person, perfecting the love poem, specifically dealing with new love and loss. She was also the first to create short forms of poetry consisting of less than 40 lines, compared to the odes and epics now being written at the time. Her style was considered by most as sensual even erotic primarily in her songs of admiration and yearning. She often wrote about the women that were sent to her for education in the arts. When they would leave to be married, she would write their wedding music. Many of her creations were said to be autobiographical, about her experiences in nature, simplicity of life and passions for and about women, but not all. She often wrote choral hymns and funeral dirges. However, it is still true that her poetry on women’s issues and lives made her notorious. Poetry in ancient times about homosexuality was not condemned since it was often practiced. Sappho became synonymous with the lifestyle on Lesbos and gave birth to the most recognized word for female love- Lesbian. It was later that creative scholars criticized her works. It seemed that preferences and moralities changed and so did the views of the readers. Around 600 BC, Sappho was exhiled from Lesbos because of the political stands of her family and went on to Sicily.

Sappho became so well known and adored by her readers that the island of Lesbos minted coins in her image and rulers desperately wanted to read her works. Plato elevated her from mere mortal status to become known as the 10th muse. Solon, an Athenian ruler and poet asked to be taught one her songs stating “ Because I want to learn it and die.”

Unfortunately only fragments for her works exist today. Over 500 poems and 12,000 lines of verse were penned by Sappho in her lifetime but only about 600 remain. Given her fame, only one of her originals is available in it’s entirely. There is rumored to be as many as 9 volumes of poetry and song about women’s lives, jealousy, emotions and love by Sappho, but after natural disaster, neglect and possibly censorship much was lost. Some even believe that Christian popes and emperors burned her works due to erotic content in the later centuries. Others believe that the documents were merely lost as others were in the Dark and Middle Ages. It wasn’t until the late 19th century that manuscripts were found in the Nile Valley dating back to the 8th century AD. Many were proven to be Sappho's work. Excavations in Egypt unearthed papyruses from the 1st century BC to 10 AD. Some of them were also found to be Sapphos. Strips were used to wrap mummies, stuff animals and wrap coffins. It is still a challenge as they continue to piece together her works of art.

Many translations are available today often offering different approaches. It is incredibly difficult to translate properly because there are only fragments. The translator sometimes may go off in their own imagination or may speculate on where the piece may have been going. This often creates subjects not necessarily intended. Critical content is missing due to broken lines and flow breaks. It is also very hard to translate ancient Greek and know all the technical details of lyricism of the time. Viewpoints are numerous and her work still instills curiousity when those hear about Sappho. She has influenced many modern poets such as Calullus and Swineburn. Her life continues to inspire research and also seems to motivate fictional accounts of her existence.

Sappho was rumored to have committed suicide possibly over a failed affair with a sailor named Phaon. She was also said to have inspired a cult of women who worshipped Aphrodite. Neither has been proven to be true or factual.

When writers and poets speak of ‘The Poetess’, it is Sappho, no question they are speaking about. We are able to possess beauty and emotion over the simplest of things like marble or the complexities of emotion such as love and revolt. She was a woman that was given credit for her works in many literary circles but there are many that still consider her a legend. She is rightly considered to be the first female modern poet. She flourished through ancient times but it is only in our time that she can be completely understood. Sappho is the only female voice and visionary of the ancient worlds that is usually seen only through the eyes of men.

“TO EROS: From all offspring of the earth and heaven, love being the most precious” Sappho