Translator: Diane J. Rayor from "Sappho: A New Translation of the Complete Works"
This online edition was prepared by Mackenzie Thibault
Introduction:
I first chose Sappho because of the interesting life that seems to have surrounded her. She lived on an island that I have actually visited and lived on for 6 weeks and because of that I find a special connection to her works. With that being said, I chose poem #17 because of specific words and people that stood out to me. This poem discusses gods and other important people in ancient Greece and because of that I was immediately drawn to it. This particular poem has many fragments within it, but it is believed to be a possible hymn for Sappho and her friends to have a safe journey according to one translator. What journey they were taking is not extremely obvious, but we do see that talking to the gods and praying to them seems to be an important first step on starting a journey of any kind. Another interesting note about this particular poem of Sappho's is that there are moments where she speaks directly to a person, or a god/goddess, and in this case Hera. In many of her poems she does not speak directly to someone, but it seems like when she does, it is to a goddess. Many times we see her talk directly to Aphrodite but this time it is Hera. Other translations fill in the various gaps and fragments a bit more, but they are still able to maintain the overall feel of the poem.
Near...
your...festival, Lady Hera,
which the kings had performed
atoning for the son of Atreus
after they had completed great labors,
first around Troy and later stopping
here, for they could not
find the seaway
before seeking you and Zeus, god of
suppliants, and Semele's alluring son.
Now...we too perform
as in those olden days.
Holy and [beautiful] ...throng
of girls...and women
around...
measures...
every...
*
to be...
[Hera] to come.
Works Cited
"Agamemnon | Greek Mythology." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica,
n.d. Web. 17 Feb. 2015.
"Atreus | Greek Mythology." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica,
n.d. Web. 17 Feb. 2015
"Dionysus | Greek Mythology." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica,
n.d. Web. 17 Feb. 2015
"Hera." Ancient History Encyclopedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Feb. 2015.
"Sappho's Choral Music: Citations & Poems (New URL)." Sappho's Choral Music: Citations
& Poems (New URL). N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Feb. 2015.
"Semele | Greek Mythology." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica,
n.d. Web. 17 Feb. 2015
"Troy." Ancient History Encyclopedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Feb. 2015.
"Zeus." Ancient History Encyclopedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Feb. 2015.