Sappho of Lesbos - The Twelfth Muse

Sappho of Lesbos (c. 620-570 BC) was a renowned lyric poetess of Ancient Greece, known for her passionate verses, many dedicated to women. Her poetry, intended to be sung with a lyre, inspired the terms "sapphic" and "lesbian". Born on the island of Lesbos in the seventh century BC, Sappho is one of the most influential figures in Greek lyric poetry, known for her enthusiastic verses, often dedicated to women. She became a reference for Sapphic female erotic poetry and for LGBTQI+ culture.

Throughout history, she has been honored with statues, coins, and ceramics. A contemporary of Pittacus and Alcaeus, Sappho is famous for her poetry intended to be sung to the sound of the lyre. Although much of her work has been lost, about 650 lines from her nine volumes survive, including the complete poem Ode to Aphrodite and notable fragments such as the Titonis, Fragment 16, and Fragment 31.

In addition to lyric poetry, she may have written elegiac and iambic poetry. Despite the paucity of information about her life, Sappho remains one of the most influential figures in Greek literature, revered for her sensitivity and influence.

Understand what LGBTQI+ means
LGBTQI+ is an acronym that represents the diversity of sexual orientations and gender identities. Each letter has a meaning:
֎ L: Lesbians – women who are attracted to other women. ֎ G: Gays – men who are attracted to other men. ֎ B: Bisexuals – people who are attracted to more than one gender. ֎ T: Transgenders – people whose gender identity differs from the sex assigned at birth. ֎ Q: Queer – a broad term for those who do not fit into traditional gender and sexuality norms. ֎ I: Intersex – people who are born with sexual characteristics that do not fit into the typical definitions of male or female. ֎ +: Includes other identities, such as asexual (people with little or no sexual attraction), pansexual (attraction regardless of gender) and non-binary (who do not identify strictly as male or female).
The acronym has evolved over time to be more inclusive and better represent diversity within the community.

Mysterious life

Sappho was born on the Greek island of Lesbos to an aristocratic family. Scholars claim that her wealth allowed her to live as she pleased, but there is no evidence for this. Many women in Ancient Greece married according to the traditions and customs of their city-states, and Sappho’s wealth did not make her immune to social and family expectations. It is more likely that she was able to live as she wished because of the high esteem in which women were held on Lesbos, as well as her own unique personality. Historian Wendy Slatkin has noted:

Considering the many restrictions on women’s lives, their inability to move freely in society, conduct business, or acquire any kind of non-domestic training, it is not surprising that no important female artists have come down to us from the classical era. Only the Greeks extolled the poet Sappho; Plato referred to her as the twelfth Muse. Significantly, she did not come from Athens or Sparta, but from Lesbos, an island whose culture embodied a high respect for women.

Slatkin’s reference to Plato calling Sappho “the twelfth muse” (often referred to by scholars as “the tenth muse”) alludes to his alleged praise of her as one of the company of the Nine Muses, who inspired art, music, dance, and poetry. There is no concrete evidence that Plato made such a statement, and it is believed to be a creation of later authors who attributed it to the Greek philosopher. Still, the fact that the phrase exists underscores Sappho’s enduring poetic response.

Wendy Slatkin is an art historian and professor emerita at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. She earned her doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania, specializing in 19th- and 20th-century French painting and sculpture. Prior to teaching at Cal Poly Pomona, Slatkin was a professor in the art history department at the University of California, Riverside. She is recognized for her contributions to gender studies in art, including works such as "Women Artists in History: From Antiquity to the Present" and "The Voices of Women Artists". She also wrote "In Her Own Words", a collection of autobiographical texts by female artists from the 19th and 20th centuries. Her research and publications have been fundamental to the inclusion and appreciation of women in the history of art.

Sappho, from an aristocratic family, lived in Mytilene, on the island of Lesbos, where she ran an academy dedicated to the cult of Aphrodite and Eros. Her lyrical poetry, with concise and intense language, combined Aeolian tradition with Homeric epic elements. Stories about her marriage to Cercylas and suicide for love of Phaon are considered fictional. She lived with at least two brothers and a daughter named Cleis.

Since little is known about her life, much of the information is based on later interpretations of her work. The classical Greeks were included in the select group of poet’s worthy of study, along with names from lyric, tragic and epic poetry.

Most of the details of her life have been lost, but it is known that she was educated learning to play the lyre and even composed music; she may have married a man who died; she may have had a daughter named Cleis (after the poet's mother); she had three brothers - Eurygius, Caraxo and Larico - the last two mentioned in a poem.

She was born into a well-established family, probably wine merchants or involved in the export of wine from Lesbos. It is said that the family was twice exiled to Sicily due to political disputes. Sappho was famous enough to have statues erected and pottery made in her honors and, later, coins minted with her name and image. The historian Vicki Leon notes:

Mytilene, the capital of Lesbos, minted coins of Sappho; Some discoveries date back to the third century - nine hundred years after the poet's death. Sappho (or at least her fame) also monopolized the ancient equivalent of a T-shirt license: her portrait and name appear on vases, bronzes and, later, much Roman art.

Sappho is believed to have had romantic relationships with her female disciples in Lesbos, which led to the association of the term "lesbian" with attraction between women. However, this view derives from later commentators, especially from Ptolemaic Egypt. Nevertheless, her poetic legacy maintains her as one of the greatest literary figures of Antiquity.

Exiled to Syracuse due to political rivalries, she returned to Lesbos and devoted herself to lyric poetry. She led a thiasos, a community that taught poetry and song under the protection of Aphrodite, a central deity of the eastern Mediterranean. This activity, common among aristocratic women, made her a reference in artistic education at the time. Sappho led her thiasos for almost ten years, until her death around 580 BC. One legend claims that she committed suicide due to unrequited love, but this story is probably fictional. Her work, focused on lyrical poetry and singing, consolidated her name as one of the greatest poets of Antiquity.

Divine and earthly love

Sappho is known for her poems expressing romantic feelings for other women, but it is not known whether these relationships were consummated or had a ritualistic meaning. Her thiasos, dedicated to Aphrodite and possibly influenced by Dionysus, may have incorporated these relationships as part of religious rituals.

In ancient Greece, sexuality was understood more in terms of the dominant role in the relationship than in terms of gender. Since women were seen as submissive, there are few references to female couples. In addition, there are records that Sappho also had male lovers and possibly a daughter.

Her work was written in the Aeolian dialect, which made it difficult to distribute beyond her homeland. Plato considered her the "tenth Muse", but many of her writings were lost over the centuries, especially due to the destruction of the Library of Alexandria and the persecution of the Church. In the fourth century, Gregory of Nazianzus ordered the burning of her texts, and in the 11th century, Pope Gregory VII decreed their destruction because he considered them immoral.

Although her main theme was love, Sappho used emotions such as nostalgia and jealousy, and not just eroticism. Her condemnation came from the fact that she addressed love between women at a time when the Church repressed female desire, especially when directed towards other women. Thus, much of what Sappho really thought and felt may have been lost.

Among her loves, Alcaeus and, especially, Pheon stand out. Her passion for Phaon was intense and unhappy. An ordinary man, Phaon was unable to correspond to the grandeur of Sappho's love. His weakness contrasted with the titanic strength of the poet. Despite the belief that Sappho was vain, her haughtiness derived from the awareness of her own worth, not from a superficial desire for recognition.

Sappho's Sexuality

Sappho influenced language to the point that, in the sixth century BC, the term "lesbian" meant "a woman who prefers her own sex." Anacreon already used this meaning. However, there is no definitive proof of Sappho's sexual orientation; interpreting it solely from her verses would be reductionist. Meaning is the meaning or sense of a word in each context. For example, the word "bank" can have different meanings: it can mean a seat or a financial institution, depending on how it is used in a sentence. The essential thing is that Sappho universally captured the experience of love, and her descriptions of a female world closed to men reinforce the hypothesis that Sappho was a lesbian, without allowing a definitive conclusion.

The debate over Sappho's sexuality reflects persistent prejudices and the resistance to accepting her as a symbol of love between women. Historians have tried to deny her sexual orientation with unfounded theories, such as the existence of two Sappho’s – one a poet and the other a “notorious slut” – without concrete evidence. Others have invented a husband whose name, translated as “Penis, of the Isle of Men,” suggests a joke. Another Victorian theory claimed that she ran a school for girls, with no documentary basis.

In addition, some claim that her poetry was not autobiographical, suggesting that Sappho created the concept of the “lyrical self.” Interestingly, this argument is only used to deny Sappho’s sexuality, but not when she addresses politics or friendship, evidencing a selective reinterpretation of her story.

Main characteristics of Sappho's poetry

֎ Lyric poetry: Written to be accompanied by music and performed with the lyre.

֎ Expression of love and desire: Her poems explore love, passion, and beauty, often in intensely personal tones.

֎ Enduring influence: Although most of her work has been lost, surviving fragments continue to inspire writers, artists, and scholars.

֎ Dialect and meter: She wrote in the Aeolic dialect and developed the so-called Sapphic stanza, which influenced Western poetry.

Sappho’s poetry

Sappho’s poems, often composed for public events, religious ceremonies and banquets, cannot be taken as autobiographical accounts. The Testimonia offers biographical references to ancient writers, although their accuracy is questionable. Preserved in fragments, her poems contain erotic references to women, although some scholars insist that she could have been heterosexual.

Regardless, Sappho is recognized as one of the greatest poets in history, influencing generations of writers. Her work was marred by the destruction of the Library of Alexandria and religious persecution, but what remains ensures her literary immortality.

Unlike Homer, who narrated epics, Sappho wrote about intimate feelings, which has made her a timeless reference, with translations now widely available. Legend suggests that the medieval Church destroyed Sappho's works to suppress her poetry about lesbian love. Although there is evidence that Pope Gregory VII ordered the burning of her texts (c. 1073), much of it had already been lost due to lack of translation.

Because she wrote in Aeolic Greek, Sappho was difficult for Latins to access, who preserved only the poems that had already been translated. Her poetry suggests same-sex relationships, but scholars caution against biographical readings. Like other poets, Sappho may have adopted different literary perspectives. She seems to have focused her work on the most basic and perennial human emotions. Scholar Suzanne MacAlister comments:

Not that young woman—she is of another kind, someone from Lesbos. Disdainfully, she wrinkles her nose with my silver hair. She is interested in women. (Salisbury, 316)

Suzanne MacAlister is a scholar specializing in ancient and Byzantine Greek studies. She earned her bachelor’s degree with honors in Modern and Ancient Greek, followed by a Ph.D. in Ancient and Byzantine Greek language and literature from the University of Sydney. From 1989 to 2007, she served as a senior lecturer at the same institution, teaching ancient Greek language, literature, and mythology. MacAlister was awarded a research fellowship at Harvard University, allowing her to conduct studies at the Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection in Washington, D.C. Additionally, she has published books, articles, and book chapters and has participated in various lectures and media interviews on the importance of the humanities. After retiring, she continued contributing to adult education, teaching courses at WEA Sydney.

In Phaedrus, Plato praises Sappho and Anacreon as authorities on love, highlighting their ability to capture the intensity of this emotion. Elizabeth E. Pender notes that Plato honors them because they vividly expressed love’s impact. Later authors reinforced this view, associating Lesbos with love between women after Sappho's fame was established.

Elizabeth E. Pender is an associate professor at the School of Languages, Cultures, and Societies at the University of Leeds. A specialist in ancient Greek philosophy, with an emphasis on the literary aspects of philosophical writings, she earned her bachelor’s degree in Classics at the University of Leeds and completed her Ph.D. on Plato at Durham University. Before returning to Leeds in 1996, she taught at institutions such as King’s College London, Royal Holloway, and University College London. Her research highlights Plato’s relationship with earlier philosophical and poetic traditions, resulting in publications such as Images of Persons Unseen: Plato's Metaphors for the Gods and the Soul. Additionally, Pender has edited works on Heraclides of Pontus, making significant contributions to the study of ancient philosophy.

Sappho is the first Greek poet known to explicitly describe the emotions generated by love. Her most famous fragment, Phainetai Moi, stands out in love poetry for depicting the physical manifestation of emotion, something rare even among male poets. However, her work does not emphasize sexual acts, but rather the excitement and emotional impact of love. In Phainetai Moi, the narrator describes passion as she gazes upon a woman and captures the intensity of desire in a unique way.

Hypotheses about her death

Her love for Phaon inspired beautiful verses, but he remained indifferent to both the love and the poetry of the muse of Lesbos. Tradition has preserved this tragic story, demonstrating how love can be a ruthless tyrant.

Safo tried to overcome her passion but failed. Love, like an uninvited guest, lodged itself in her soul, refusing to leave. She realized the fragility of the man she loved but could not renounce him. If she had been a Christian, her faith might have provided her with solace; being a pagan, she found suicide to be her only way out.

Desperate, Sappho sought to free herself from her pain by throwing herself off the rock of Leucades. Her tragic end illustrates how, for some tormented souls, death can seem less bitter than suffering. Her legacy, however, remained immortal, consolidating her as one of the greatest names in world literature.

However, the story of Sappho's suicide on the cliff of Leucades is unlikely and has been rejected by historians since Strabo (64 BC-24 AD). Menander probably created this legend to mock romantic love, associating a lesbian poet with a tragic fate for a man. Another notable figure, Artemisia I of Caria, is also said to have committed suicide at the same place, but this story is equally lacking in credibility.

Sappho probably lived to old age and died of natural causes, although there are no definitive records of her life. Her poetic talent made her one of the most influential figures in Greek literature. Her verses were widely recited, and many of the expressions she coined became part of the Greek language.

Legacy

Sappho, the celebrated poetess of Lesbos, has been admired throughout history, despite attempts to distort her identity. Considered “The Poetess” in contrast to Homer, the “Poet,” and called the “Tenth Muse” by Plato, her poetry has influenced generations, being praised by authors such as Horace. However, part of her legacy has been shaped to fit heteronormative narratives.

Inspiration has never been exclusive to men, although they have tried to monopolize the glory. Coryna, for example, defeated Pindar in poetry contests, and her statue at Tanagra attested to her recognition. Other notable female poets of Ancient Greece include Prascilla, Miró, Erina, Telesilla, and Nosida. Telesilla, in addition to being a poet, led women against the Lacedaemonians in battle, demonstrating female protagonism in war as well.

Details about Sappho's life are scarce since the ancients did not write biographies like modern people. Even so, her greatness has endured through the centuries. Ovid dedicated one of his Heroides to her, and her poetry, which addressed love, jealousy, and passion, has become immortal. Creator of the Sapphic meter, she mastered multiple genres, such as epithalamia and elegies, establishing herself as one of the greatest poets in history.

Sappho recognized the strength of her legacy, as expressed in Fragment 77: "Someone, I tell you, will remember us, even at other times." Centuries later, her poetry still resonates with the same intensity ֎