Sappho (Legendary)
heroSappho was the historical poet of Lesbos whose life became so encrusted with legend — especially her alleged leap from the Leucadian cliff — that she exists at the boundary of myth and history.
The Myth
The greatest lyric poet of antiquity, Sappho ran a thiasos (school/community) for young women on Lesbos. Ancient legend said she leapt to her death from the white cliffs of Leucas for love of the ferryman Phaon — a tale likely invented to "correct" her known love of women. Plato called her the "Tenth Muse." Of her nine books of poetry, only fragments survive. Her name gave English the word "sapphic" and the island Lesbos gave us "lesbian" — both referring to the love celebrated in her surviving verses.
Parents
Scamandronymus and Cleis
Children
Cleis (daughter)
Symbols
Fun Fact
Sappho gave English two words for female love — "sapphic" from her name and "lesbian" from her island. Both come from her poetry.
Words We Inherited
English words and phrases that trace back to this myth:
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