Sappho

Reading notes

• The Loves §2.18 Lesbian woman beloved of the Aonian lyre

  Sappho of Lesbos, the great poetess, whose verse-letter to Phaon closes the Heroides.

• The Art of Love §3.17 Sappho

  The lyric poetess of Lesbos, byword for passionate love-song.

• The Heroides §15 Sappho

  The great lyric poet of Lesbos (early 6th c. BC), here imagined writing in elegiacs to the youth Phaon who has deserted her. The speaker.

• The Cure for Love §23 Sappho

  The archaic Greek poet of Lesbos, whose love-songs soften the heart toward one's mistress.

• Sorrows §2.1 Lesbian Sappho

  Sappho of Lesbos, whose verse 'taught the girls to love' yet left her safe; cited in Ovid's defense.

• Sorrows §3.7 Lesbian poetess

  Sappho, named as the one poet who would outdo Ovid's gifted pupil Perilla.