Sappho

saf'o, a Greek lyric poet who flourished about 600 B. C. According to all accounts she was a native of Mitylene in the island of Lesbos, where she spent her life. She was a woman of noble birth. One brother was a cupbearer; another a wealthy merchant. Her home was the center of a coterie of literary women, the earliest association of the kind known. Of nine volumes of lyric poems by Sappho, all but an ode to Aphrodite and a few fragments are lost. A brilliant hummingbird with a long, forked tail has been named Sappho in her honor.

Among the ancients Sappho enjoyed a unique renown. She was called "The Poetess," as Homer was called "The Poet." Aristotle quoted without question a judgment which placed her in the same rank as Homer. Plato, in the Phaedrus, mentioned her as the tenth Muse. Solon, hearing one of her poems, prayed that he might not see death till he had learned it. Strabo speaks of her genius with religious awe. Longinus cites her love-ode as a specimen of poetical sublimity. The epigrammatists call her Child of Aphrodite and Eros, nursling of the Graces and Persuasion, pride of Hellas, peer of Muses, companion of Apollo. Nowhere is a hint whispered that her poetry was aught but perfect. As far as we can judge, these praises were strictly just. Of all the poets of the world, of all the illustrious artists of all literatures, Sappho is the one whose every word has a peculiar and unmistakable perfume, a seal of absolute perfection and inimitable grace."--Symonds.