I, Sappho of Lesbos, a Greek Island, was born around 615 B.C. on the N.E. Aegean island of Lesbos in the Pre-classical Greek period at the very foundation of the later Greek Democracy. This was an exciting new time, and Sappho was involved with all the changes that occurred. For example, the Greek alphabet had just been invented, coin money was minted for the first time, the political system had changed radically, and the arts were vigorously renewed. I was greatly loved throughout antiquity both for my personal qualities and creativity. I was widely acclaimed for the astonishing beauty and originality of my lyric poetry which I brilliantly perfected. Poetry in my day was usually accompanied by music and dance. I was so accomplished at composing in all three modes, that I acquired the reputation for being the Divine Inspiration of the Muses. I was held in high esteem and copied even 500 years after my death. However, for the past two thousand years, my work has been fragmented and distorted. Absurd myths have been attached to my name by the patriarchy. I had a school for young noble girls and women and one of my, later very fragmented, poems dedicated to one of my students, Atthis, was the basic source of the stories told much later, that I was preferred the company and love of women, which was called "Lesbian" after my home island. There's no proof of that fact and as far as you want to believe my own words: it's not true at all. So gentlemen, you can pick your chance at Sapphoula again, but I must tell you this: I'm married...*s*. Besides, I would like to show you the picture below:

Here you see me in the garden of my school for young noble women. The man in front of me, performing with his lyra and singing to me, oh, I like that man! He's the famous poet Alkaios from the Isle of Lesbos, where we live.....He is all fire in his soul and I really love him, but oh...he's such a difficult man...! How will this fire and doubt in my heart be quenched?

Sapphoula