(Lesbos, actual Grecia, s. VII a.C.-id., s. VI a.C.)
Poetisa griega. Pocos datos ciertos se tienen acerca de Safo, de quien tan sólo se conservaron 650 versos, extraídos de citas tardías y del moderno estudio de papiros. Vivió toda su vida en Lesbos, con la excepción de un corto exilio en Sicilia motivado por las luchas aristocráticas. Supuestamente perteneciente a la aristocracia, llevó la vida propia de las mujeres de la clase alta, alejadas necesariamente del ambiente de luchas e intrigas políticas; según una tradición que parte de Anacreonte, era homosexual. Se la ha presentado siempre como profesora de una escuela de poesía fundada por ella, lo que es difícil de certificar, aunque sí es cierto que convivía con sus compañeras en un clima distendido y propicio a la contemplación y recreación en el arte y la belleza. De su obra, que al parecer constaba de nueve libros de extensión variada, se han conservado algunos Epitalamios, cantos nupciales para los cuales creó un ritmo propio y un metro nuevo, que pasó a denominarse sáfico, y fragmentos de poemas dirigidos a algunas de las mujeres que convivían con ella. En ellos se entrevé la expresión de una subjetividad que se recrea en sutiles oscilaciones de ánimo, en un intento de dar forma a la pasión. Presenta la pasión amorosa como una fuerza irracional, situada entre el bien y el mal, que se apodera del ser humano y se manifiesta en diversas formas, como los celos, el deseo o una intangible nostalgia, e incluso produce reacciones físicas, como las que describe detalladamente en uno de sus poemas, el más completo que se ha conservado de ella. Su poesía tuvo un gran éxito ya en la Antigüedad, y sirvió de fuente de inspiración a grandes poetas, como Teócrito o Catulo ya a partir de la época alejandrina se puso de manifiesto el interés por conservar su obra e intentar descubrir nuevas partes. A pesar de lo fragmentario de su producción conservada, parece que Safo consiguió hacer realidad su deseo, acorde con la concepción helénica de la poesía, de hacer perdurable su amor a través de su creación poética.
(Lesbos, Greece today, s. VII BC-id., S. VI BC)
Greek poet. Few details have been certain about Sappho, of whom only 650 were retained verses, dating from late and the modern study of papyri. She lived her entire life in Lesbos, with the exception of a short exile in Sicily motivated by the struggles aristocratic. Allegedly belonging to the aristocracy, took the life of its own for women of the upper class, remote necessarily environment struggles and political intrigues, as part of a tradition that Anacreonte, was gay. It has always presented as a teacher of a school founded by her poetry, which is difficult to certify, although it is true that lived with their partners and in a climate conducive to contemplation and recreation in the art and beauty. In her book, which reportedly consisted of nine books of varying length, have kept some Epitalamios, wedding songs for which they created a rhythm and a new meter, which was renamed Sapphic, and fragments of poems directed at some of the Women who lived with her. They glimpse the expression of a subjectivity that is recreated in subtle mood swings, in an attempt to shape the passion. Presents the passion of love as an irrational, between good and evil, that seizes the human being and is manifested in various forms, such as jealousy, desire or an intangible nostalgia, and even produce physical reactions, such as those described in detail in one of her poems, the most complete that has been kept from her. Her poetry was a great success already in ancient times, and served as a source of great inspiration to poets, including Teócrito Catulus or longer from the time Alexandrian it became clear interest in preserving her work and try to discover new parts. Despite the patchy kept its production, it seems that Sappho was able to realize their wish, according to the Greek conception of poetry, making his enduring love through his poetic creation.
Greek poet. Few details have been certain about Sappho, of whom only 650 were retained verses, dating from late and the modern study of papyri. She lived her entire life in Lesbos, with the exception of a short exile in Sicily motivated by the struggles aristocratic. Allegedly belonging to the aristocracy, took the life of its own for women of the upper class, remote necessarily environment struggles and political intrigues, as part of a tradition that Anacreonte, was gay. It has always presented as a teacher of a school founded by her poetry, which is difficult to certify, although it is true that lived with their partners and in a climate conducive to contemplation and recreation in the art and beauty. In her book, which reportedly consisted of nine books of varying length, have kept some Epitalamios, wedding songs for which they created a rhythm and a new meter, which was renamed Sapphic, and fragments of poems directed at some of the Women who lived with her. They glimpse the expression of a subjectivity that is recreated in subtle mood swings, in an attempt to shape the passion. Presents the passion of love as an irrational, between good and evil, that seizes the human being and is manifested in various forms, such as jealousy, desire or an intangible nostalgia, and even produce physical reactions, such as those described in detail in one of her poems, the most complete that has been kept from her. Her poetry was a great success already in ancient times, and served as a source of great inspiration to poets, including Teócrito Catulus or longer from the time Alexandrian it became clear interest in preserving her work and try to discover new parts. Despite the patchy kept its production, it seems that Sappho was able to realize their wish, according to the Greek conception of poetry, making his enduring love through his poetic creation.
