Pierre-Alexandre Schoenewerk Bronzed Resin Sculpture of Sappho or Euterpe

Pierre-Alexandre Schoenewerk Bronzed Resin Sculpture of Sappho or Euterpe, After Schoenewerk, £165

Cast on an oval base.

H13" L13.5" W6"

Ref/01672

Sappho (/ˈsæfoʊ/; Greek: Σαπφώ Sapphṓ [sap.pʰɔ̌ː]; Aeolic Greek Ψάπφω Psápphō; c. 630 – c. 570 BC) was an Archaic Greek poet from Eresos or Mytilene on the island of Lesbos.[a] Sappho is known for her lyric poetry, written to be sung while accompanied by music. In ancient times, Sappho was widely regarded as one of the greatest lyric poets and was given names such as the "Tenth Muse" and "The Poetess". Most of Sappho's poetry is now lost, and what is extant has mostly survived in fragmentary form; only the Ode to Aphrodite is certainly complete. As well as lyric poetry, ancient commentators claimed that Sappho wrote elegiac and iambic poetry. Three epigrams formerly attributed to Sappho are extant, but these are actually Hellenistic imitations of Sappho's style. The word lesbian is an allusion to Sappho, originating from the name of the island of Lesbos, where she was born. However, though in modern culture Sappho is seen as a lesbian, she has not always been considered so.

In Greek mythology, Euterpe is one of the nine Muses and the patron of music and flute playing. Her name comes from the Greek words eû ("well") and térpein ("to please"), and literally means "rejoicing well" or "delight". Ancient poets called her the "Giver of delight". In late Classical times, she was also named the muse of lyric poetry and depicted holding a flute. Some say she invented the aulos, or double-flute, but most mythographers credit Marsyas with the invention. Euterpe may also have been the mother of Rhesus, the king of Thrace who died in the Trojan War.