SAPPHOLOGY
A Study of Lesbianism - dec. 99
by: redd_k

   Part 2 of 5

     This second portion of my report will deal with Sappho herself. If you read  last month's introduction  there is no need for a review here...if you haven't, please do. Sappho, it should be said first, is the mother of all lesbians; yes, including the deviant ones, because although she did not invent lesbianism, she gave it the better name it enjoyed until the eighteenth century when Victorianism spread around the world where Europe and its colonies reflected all things European for better or for worse. No doubt by this time perverted homosexuals had done their share to cast lesbianism in a bad social light; but the extreme prudishness that lasted until the last half of this century is probably the most damaging. Unfortunately, the social revolution during this period unleashed the worst of society's deviants, and the only remaining "closet" lesbians are those of whom I speak, who hide not because they are ashamed of themselves; but because they are ashamed of their sisters.

     Sappho was born and lived in Eressos, on a Mediterranean island called Lesbos, (later known as Mytilene), during the seventh century BC. She was a poetess of note, perhaps the most famous of all women poets, but most of her works are lost to history. What we know of her comes from the little that survived, plus the writings of her contemporaries and later scholars. There is no question that she was influential, for even as late as 300 years after her death, Plato wrote about her, calling her the "Tenth Muse," elevating her status to the equivalent of a goddess. Ovid spoke of her great love affair with Phaon in his Heroides. Because she wrote to and about women in many cases, including love odes to those closest to her, there is no doubt she was lesbian--and because she had several failed relationships with men, it can be said she was bi-sexual. She was married at least once, and had a daughter. Her association with women however is more remembered about her...indeed, the language includes an adjective "sapphic" to describe, among similar things, the apparent affection of one woman for another. It is said that most of her poems of love are addressed to certain women, apparently a literary circle whose members were emotionally attached. Her poetry frequently invoked Aphrodite, and included sensuous images of the moon and the sea, of flowers and trees. She was imitated by many, including Catullus, an early Roman poet.

     Sappho must have been beautiful. I really don't know this, obviously, but I make the claim and invite evidence to the contrary. Her popularity with men and women of her time suggest not only physical beauty, but also charm, wit and intelligence. I wish I knew her--I do know her spirit.

...to be continued