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Sappho: Ionian Greek
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This was the Pre-classical period of Greece, 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.
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This edition introduces Sappho to the modern reader. It provides a vivid, contemporary translation, which captures the spareness and the intensity of Sappho's line. And for the reader with some familiarity with ancient Greek, the translations are printed opposite the text on which they are based. In addition, the student will find biographical notes, ancient testimonia, and a concordance of the texts.
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The "Hymn to Aphrodite" is written in the meter Sappho most commonly used, which is called "Sapphics" or "the Sapphic stanza" after her. Greek meter is quantitative; that is, it consists of alternating long and short syllables in a regular pattern. The Sapphic stanza consists of 3 identical lines and a fourth, shorter line, in the following pattern.
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(A detailed introduction to Sappho and her world is included in the article SAPPHO under the TRANSLATIONS index on the main index page. The following is the text/commentary section of that longer treatment. The Greek text is available at that location.)
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Ionian Greek