The lens of Classical-period Athenian culture has unjustly colored academic and popular knowledge of the ancient Greek states. The assumption that Classical Athenian culture presents an accurate or comprehensive picture of Greek culture is both untrue and unhelpful in gaining an understanding of Greek literature and rhetorical tradition prior to the dominance of the Classical tradition. In this audio presentation, we seek to problematize this Athenian lens by examining the life and circumstances of the poet Sappho.   In explicating the role of women in cult and faction life on Lesbos, we attempt to demythologize Sappho herself, while presenting a broad but clear picture of the poet’s location and role in Ancient Greek culture. By tracing Sappho’s poetry, examining legal records detailing women’s rights during her life, and explaining the role of cult and ritual in Ancient Lesbos, we hope to construct a more complete and fair image of literary and rhetorical culture in the Ancient world.
 

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