Introduction to Sappho: The Tenth Muse

Welcome to your study of Sappho! In this part of the Love and Relationships module, we move away from the male-dominated perspectives of philosophers and Roman poets to hear a unique, female voice from the late 7th and early 6th centuries BC. Sappho lived on the island of Lesbos and is one of the few female writers from antiquity whose work has survived—though most of it only exists in fragments.

Sappho’s poetry is important because it focuses on the personal and the emotional. While poets like Homer wrote about great wars and heroes, Sappho wrote about the internal "war" of the heart. For your exam, you need to understand how her work reflects the ethics and values of love, desire, and relationships in the archaic Greek world.

Note: For a broader look at the social rules of the time, see the chapter on "Men and women: status, marriage and adultery".

Key Themes in Sappho's Work

1. The Power of Eros (Desire)

In Sappho’s world, Eros (love/desire) is not a choice; it is a powerful, external force that "shakes" the soul. She often describes love as something bittersweet or even painful.
Quick Tip: Think of Eros in Sappho's poetry like a natural disaster—it is sudden, overwhelming, and impossible to resist.

2. Physical Symptoms of Desire

One of the most famous aspects of Sappho’s poetry is how she describes the physical effect of love on the body. This is a key requirement for your syllabus. She doesn't just say "I am sad"; she describes:

  • A tongue being "broken" or frozen.
  • A "thin fire" racing under the skin.
  • Trembling and turning "paler than grass."
  • A ringing in the ears or failing eyesight.
These descriptions show that for Sappho, desire is a total psychosomatic experience—it affects the mind and the body simultaneously.

3. The Role of Aphrodite

Unlike the philosophers you will study (Plato and Seneca), Sappho views love through a religious lens. The goddess Aphrodite is a central figure in her poems.
In some works, Sappho portrays Aphrodite as a personal ally. She calls upon the goddess to come down from heaven in her "spangled chariot" to help her win the heart of a beloved. This shows a reciprocal relationship between the mortal and the divine—Sappho honors the goddess, and in return, the goddess "fights" on her side in the battle of love.

Relationships Between Women

Sappho’s poetry often focuses on the beauty of women and the intense emotional bonds between them. This is why her name is the root of the word "Sapphic" and her island, Lesbos, is the root of "Lesbian."

Contextual Note: It is debated whether Sappho was a teacher of a thiasos (a religious group for young women) or simply part of a circle of female friends. Regardless, her poems celebrate:

  • Beauty and Adornment: She focuses on details like floral garlands, soft sandals, and expensive perfumes.
  • Longing and Absence: Many poems are about the pain of a friend leaving (often for marriage) and the power of memory to keep love alive.
  • Comparison to the Heroic: In one poem, she argues that while some think a "host of cavalry" or "infantry" is the most beautiful thing on earth, she believes it is "whatever one loves." This is a radical shift from the typical Greek focus on military glory (kleos).

Marriage and Social Status

Sappho also wrote epithalamia (wedding songs). These give us a glimpse into the social expectations of the time:

  • The Bridegroom: Often compared to a "towering" hero or even a god.
  • The Bride: Often compared to a sweet apple ripening on a high branch, just out of reach.
  • Virginity: Some fragments express a sense of loss regarding virginity upon marriage, reflecting the high value placed on it in Greek society.

Don't worry if this seems tricky: Just remember that Sappho's wedding poems were often performed by a chorus, so they might represent community values rather than her personal feelings.

Quick Review: Sappho vs. Other Thinkers

To do well in AO2 (Analysis and Evaluation), you should be able to compare Sappho to the other key figures in the H408/32 module:

Sappho vs. Plato/Seneca: While the philosophers often want to control or reason with desire, Sappho accepts it as an overwhelming force that cannot be tamed.
Sappho vs. Ovid: Ovid treats love like a game or a skill to be learned (as seen in Ars Amatoria), whereas Sappho treats it as a deeply felt, sincere emotion.
Sappho vs. Roman Values: Sappho prioritizes the private world of the individual, while Roman writers often worry about how love affects one's public duty (pietas).

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Assuming we have her full life story: We only have fragments. Be careful not to state "Sappho felt X" as an absolute fact; instead, say "The persona in the poem expresses X."
2. Ignoring the Gods: Don't treat her poems like modern pop songs. Remember that for an ancient Greek audience, the presence of Aphrodite was a literal and serious reality.
3. Forgetting the Lyre: Sappho’s work was lyric poetry, meaning it was meant to be sung. The rhythm and musicality were just as important as the words.

Key Takeaways for the Exam

  • Personal Voice: Sappho provides a rare female perspective on desire in a male-dominated world.
  • Physicality: She is the master of describing the "symptoms" of love (heart racing, sweating, etc.).
  • Divine Intervention: Aphrodite is portrayed as a powerful, personal ally in love.
  • The Private over the Public: She values the person she loves over military or political glory.
  • Fragmentation: Her work is fragmentary, which allows for different interpretations of her relationships and social role.