Sappho, an Archaic Greek poet, was considered one of the greatest poets of her time. She lived on the island of Lesbos at the end of the seventh and beginning of the sixth centuries BC. In ancient times, Sappho was widely regarded as one of the greatest lyric poets and was referred to as the “Tenth Muse” and “The Poetess”.
Sappho was regarded as highly as Homer, the greatest poet in history, for the invention of lyric poetry. She composed nine volumes of poetry out of which only one full poem survives. The rest are just fragments. Although the majority of Sappho’s works is lost in the whirlpool of time, the few that survived are incredible and poignant.
Life of Sappho
Not much information is found about Sappho’s life. She hailed from a wealthy family from Lesbos. According to ancient sources, she had three brothers: Charaxos (Χάραξος), Larichos (Λάριχος), and Eurygios (Εὐρύγιος). Her parents’ names are still unknown. She grew up in Lesbos, where she led a highly esteemed life. She learned the lyre and composed poetry and music.
Some sources mention that she was exiled to Sicily around 600 BC for her political views, where she may have continued working until around 570 BC. According to a myth, she committed suicide by leaping from the Leucadian cliffs for her lover, the ferryman Phaon. Some sources also mention the possibility that she may even have had a daughter named Cleis.
Sappho’s Illustrious Journey as a Poet
In the modern day, Sappho is often regarded as a lesbian poet, although there’s no evidence can be found to solidify the fact. Her sexual preference should not hold much importance as her work is the legacy the world looks forward to.
Sappho’s poems are woven brilliantly with intimate human emotions, which resonate with even modern-day readers. She invented the Sapphic meter or Sapphic stanza consisting of three lines of eleven beats and a concluding line of five.
Sappho was celebrated for her genius poetic works in her own time and long afterward. The geographer and historian Strabo who lived between 63BCE-23CE remarked in his book, Geography:
“And along with these flourished also Sappho, a marvelous woman; for in all the time of which we have the record
I do not know of the appearance of any woman who could rival Sappho, even in a slight degree, in the matter of poetry.”
Her Poetic Style