Sappho: A break from the traditional

When one normally thinks of historical figures of ancient Hellenic culture, usually one thinks of prominent Athenian men. Sappho is a refreshing break from traditional historical figures of ancient Greece. Not only was Sappho a women, she also was from Eastern Greece on the Isle of Lesbos, speaking an entire different dialect of Greek than renown poets such as Homer. In addition, evidence suggests that she was short, average in appearance, dark in complexion, and of Hittite descent. Prominent male elitist in Athens at her time would call people of Sappho's ethnic group uncivilized βαρβάροι or "Barbarians". Unless she were rich, she would have been at the bottom of the totem pole in Greek society. Nevertheless, she is one of the most prominent figures in Greek poetry.

For women today she represents female excellence in a male dominated society. That is primarily why is synonymous with lesbianism. However, there is no evidence indicating that she was, or was not, truly gay.

Poem 1: This is a poem recalling an apotheosis. In this poem she is sitting in a temple praying to Aphrodite, when suddenly she has a a vision of Aphrodite gloriously coming to her, speaking to her telepathically asking her "what hurts?". Then, just as suddenly, she is brought back to reality; however, she continues speaking to her as if Aphrodite were still there. At the end of the poem Sappho calls the goddess her "battle ally". Perhaps she is allied with Aphrodite in the battle for female equality in a male dominated society?

Poem 2: This is a poem about infatuation. In the first few stanzas it seems like Sappho is talking about the butterflies-in-stomach feeling of being in love, saying things like "Then in my bosom my heart wildly flutters, And, when on thee I gaze never so little, Bereft am I of all power of utterance". But then  in the last stanza, there seems to be a darker shift in the poem, as if something joyful was lost. She says: "Down courses in streams the sweat of emotion, A dread trembling o'erwhelms me".

I'm not quite sure of the philosophical value of Sappho's poems. It seems she uses her poetry to express personal experiences, not philosophical ideas.

zip it up and zip it out