Sappho - Hymn to Aphrodite (Fragment 1)
Event Details
The poet Sappho was so revered by the Ancient Greeks that Plato called her the Tenth Muse and so famous that her image appeared on coins. She was admired for her technical virtuosity and development of the lyric form, but also her emotional honesty – speaking directly to the reader with the intimacy of simple speech. Although mainly fragments of her poems have survived, some only a few lines long, her influence and esteem remain to this day.
Hymn to Aphrodite is the only poem by Sappho known to be complete. Over seven stanzas it contains an invocation to Aphrodite and a plea for help in securing the love of the woman who has so far spurned her. Passionate and at times ambiguous, the reader is left wondering if the goddess of love’s intervention will be of any help at all.
Through repeated readings, analysis and discussion we will work towards an understanding of Sappho’s legacy and enduring appeal.
SALON DETAILS:
- Single meeting study facilitated by Caroline Hammond
- Wednesday 4 October, 6.00 – 8.00 pm (UK)
- £30 to include background materials and opening notes
- Recommended edition: Josephine Balmer’s translation Sappho: Poems & Fragments, ISBN: 9781780374574 (paperback)
