The Love Songs of Sappho

Sappho (ca. 610-580 BCE) was an ancient Greek poet from the island of Lesbos, who was known for her lyric poetry (i.e., poetry intended to be sung and accompanied by a lyre). Unfortunately, most of her verses are now lost, and what is extant has survived only in fragmentary form, except for one complete poem - the "Ode to Aphrodite." Little is known of Sappho's life. It is thought that she was from a wealthy family living in Mytilene on the island of Lesbos. Ancient sources say that she had three brothers; the names of two of them are mentioned in the "Brothers Poem" discovered in 2014. Sappho was a prolific poet, probably composing around 10,000 lines. Her work was renowned in the ancient world, and in later ages she became well known as a symbol of love and desire between women.