Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

theHandpuppet

(19,964 posts)
Sun Mar 23, 2014, 10:49 PM Mar 2014

New Poems of Greek Poetess Sappho Recovered

I'm afraid this article is a couple of months old but I just happened across it whilst in the search for another archeological discovery.

Greek Reporter
Jan. 28, 2104
http://eu.greekreporter.com/2014/01/28/new-poems-of-greek-poetess-sappho-recovered/

New Poems of Greek Poetess Sappho Recovered


Today, only few poems by the ancient Greek poetess Sappho have survived, but thanks to new findings, two new works have been recovered, giving experts hope to find even more.

These previously unknown poems by the great poetess of the 7th century B.C. came to light when the owner of an ancient papyrus consulted Oxford classicist world-renowned papyrologist Dr. Dirk Obbink about the Greek writings on the tattered scrap...

...One of the two recovered poems speaks of a Charaxos and a Larichos, the names assigned by ancient Greeks to two of Sappho’s brothers, though never before found in Sappho’s own writings. The poem is set to cause discussions about whether or not the two men are Sappho’s brothers. It depicts an exchange between two people concerned about the success of Charaxos’ latest sea voyage. The speaker may be Sappho herself, but the loss of the poem’s initial lines makes this unclear.

A horizontal line on the papyrus indicates the end of the first poem and the beginning of the next, an address to the goddess Aphrodite. Only scattered words from this second poem can be recovered from the papyrus, which grows more tattered and illegible to the end.... MORE

Also see: http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/01/28/scholars-discover-new-poems-from-ancient-greek-poetess-sappho.html

3 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
New Poems of Greek Poetess Sappho Recovered (Original Post) theHandpuppet Mar 2014 OP
I think something was posted about this a few months ago when it was first found = Tuesday Afternoon Mar 2014 #1
I post fairly regularly to Athropology Group... theHandpuppet Mar 2014 #2
actually, that is the World History (Group) listed under Arts & Humanities (Topics) Tuesday Afternoon Mar 2014 #3

Tuesday Afternoon

(56,912 posts)
1. I think something was posted about this a few months ago when it was first found =
Mon Mar 24, 2014, 12:24 AM
Mar 2014

Maybe in the Anthropology Group. Very Cool.

theHandpuppet

(19,964 posts)
2. I post fairly regularly to Athropology Group...
Mon Mar 24, 2014, 07:42 AM
Mar 2014

... it hadn't been posted there but just did a search and found it under Arts & Humanties.

Edited to add: Should have provided a link to the other thread. Here 'tis: http://www.democraticunderground.com/1166810

Tuesday Afternoon

(56,912 posts)
3. actually, that is the World History (Group) listed under Arts & Humanities (Topics)
Mon Mar 24, 2014, 11:29 AM
Mar 2014

and Yes, I am thoroughly confused now

Including an excerpt =


Here's one translation

Still, you keep on twittering that Charaxos
comes, his boat full. That kind of thing I reckon
Zeus and his fellow gods know; and you mustn’t
make the assumption;

rather, command me, let me be an envoy
praying intensely to the throne of Hera
who could lead him, he and his boat arriving
here, my Charaxos,

finding me safely; let us then divert all
other concerns on to the lesser spirits;
after all, after hurricanes the clear skies
rapidly follow;

and the ones whose fate the Olympian ruler
wants to transform from troubles into better –
they are much blessed, they go about rejoicing
in their good fortune.

As for me, if Larichos reaches manhood,
if he could manage to be rich and leisured,
he would give me, so heavy-hearted, such a
swift liberation.

Latest Discussions»Alliance Forums»History of Feminism»New Poems of Greek Poetes...