Over time, a lot of writing gets swept under the rug and forgotten about by the general public, leaving us with only classics we’re forced to read in high school English class. That’s why, when you think of romance writing, you probably think about Shakespeare or Jane Austen. Things like ancient literature are easily forgotten when we aren’t surrounded by references to them in the media. With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, let me put you on one of the greatest romance poets that ever lived.
Sappho, born around 610 C.E., hailed from the island of Lesbos in Greece. She was regarded as highly skilled for her poetry about love and was said to be married to a wealthy man named Cerclyas. Though many, as hinted in the remaining fragments of her poetry, believe she had been attracted to women. Fans of her work also back this claim up, saying Sappho truly was “not like other girls” and was looked down upon in social circles for being a blunt and “masculine” woman. Whether she was gay or not, her writing prevails as a beautiful snapshot of the culture, with many references back to Homer, writer of the Iliad.
Sappho’s writing influenced future generations of LGBTQIA+ and female writers. Her writing has influenced many modern ideas behind love and how to write about it. Her influence goes as deep as there being English words based off of her. The word “lesbian” comes from the fact that Sappho was from Lesbos. She also inspired the word “sapphic” which is defined as “an umbrella term used by women who are attracted to other women” by Alani Vargas at Parade.com. These are both cited to be based off of how much of a symbol Sappho is for LGBTQIA+ women.
“you came and I was crazy for you
Sappho, If Not, Winter: Fragments of Sappho
and you cooled my mind that burned with longing”
Iconic lines of sappho
These are just a few of my personal favorite remaining Sappho lines. You can use this for your Instagram caption, a quote board, or maybe a love poem of your own!
- “Someone, I tell you, in another time will remember us.”
- “In the crooks of your body, I find my religion.”
- “May I write words more naked than flesh, stronger than bone, more resilient than sinew, sensitive than nerve.”
- “Sweet mother, I cannot weave — slender Aphrodite has overcome me with longing for a girl.”
- “You are, I think, an evening star, the fairest of all the stars.”
- “…gracious your form and your eyes as honey : desire is poured upon your lovely face Aphrodite has honored you exceedingly…”
- “Although only breath, words which I speak are immortal.”
- “She who loves roses must be patient and not cry out when she is pierced by thorns.”
Little remains of Sappho’s work today. Some say it just was not well preserved over time, despite many reading it and enjoying it on a daily basis during its time. Evidence could prove the legend that Pope Gregory VII ordered the church to burn her work to suppress her rumored lesbian love. Sappho also wrote in a certain type of Greek that was difficult for Latin writers to translate, as they were accustomed to Homeric Greek. The works others had translated was what survived and the rest was either destroyed or faded into obscurity because nobody could understand her language.
No matter what happened to Sappho’s writing, the fragments that have survived to this day are life changing on their own. Next time you’re trying to find the cutest quote possible without picking one from a rom-com or Romeo and Juliet, try looking through translated Sappho for inspiration!