Many Wounds in Achilles' Heart: Quintus of Smyrna, Posthomerica 1.718-721

Name:  Quintus of Smyrna Date:  4th century CE Region:   Smyrna [modern Greece] Citation: Posthomerica 1.718-721

But Achilles grieved as he gazed

Down at Penthesilea’s beautiful body lying dead in the dust

The pain in his heart was no less

than feeling the recent loss of his beloved Patroclus.

--Quintus Smyrnaeus, Posthomerica 1.718-721, Translated into Latin by Lorenz Rhodomann

  μέγα δ᾽ ἄχνυτο Πηλέος υἱὸς

κούρης εἰσορόων ἐρατὸν σθένος ἐν κουίῃσι:

τοὔνεκά οἱ κραδίην ὀλοαὶ κατέδαπτον ἀνῖαι

ὁππόσον ἀμφ᾽ ἑτάροιο πάρος Πατρόκλοιο δαμέντος.

 At Pelei filius valde contristabatur,

delectabilem puellae speciem in pulverem contuens;

ideo nociva aegritudo ipsius cor edebat,

non minus quam nuper ob Patroclum amicum interfectum.

 Quintus of Smyrna was a Greek poet who lived during the 4^th century CE. His epic poem, the Posthomerica, was a fourteen volume epic depicting the events of the later half of the Trojan War; this epic preserves many literary sources that are no longer extant.

How Many Kisses, Catullus? Catullus 7

Counting Kisses: Catullus’ Original to His Girlfriend Lesbia

Name: Catullus Date:  84 – 54 BCE Region:  Verona / Cisalpine Gaul [modern northern Italy] Citation:  Poem 7

Lesbia, you ask me how many kisses

I want—and how many are too many for me.

I want as great a number as sands in the Saharan desert

Between the Oracle of Ammon

And the sacred tomb of ol’ Battus.

As great a number of stars in the dead of night

That watch over the meetings of secret lovers.

That’s the number of kisses your Catullus wants to kiss,

Enough kisses that nosy people cannot count

Nor evil tongues can curse.

Counting Kisses: Catullus’ Original to His Girlfriend Lesbia

Quaeris, quot mihi basiationes

tuae, Lesbia, sint satis superque.

Quam magnus numerus Libyssae harenae

lasarpiciferis iacet Cyrenis

oraclum Jovis inter aestuosi

et Batti veteris sacrum sepulcrum;

aut quam sidera multa, cum tacet nox,

furtivos hominum vident amores:

tam te basia multa basiare

vesano satis et super Catullo est,

quae nec pernumerare curiosi

possint nec mala fascinare lingua.

Catullus [Gaius Valerius Catullus; 84 – 54 BCE, modern Italy] was a Roman statesman born in Verona [modern Italy] who lived during the tumultuous last days of the Roman Republic.  His poetry offers rare insight into the lives of people who lived during his time period. Like Propertius and Tibullus, Catullus used a pseudonym for the objects of his attention; many of his love poems were addressed to either “Lesbia” or “Juventius.”

Find Me Somebody to Love: A 12th century Love Poem

Cupid, Find Me Somebody to Love

Name: [Unknown]  Date:  12th – 13th century CE Region:  [Unknown, Europe] Citation: Ellis, R. Epigrammata Codicis Bodleiani Rawl. BN 109 #2 [1]

Cupid, hold your fire!

For neither my boyfriend

Nor my girlfriend

Stays true to me.

Hold your fire, hold your fire!

What’s my type? A person who loves!

May I find one soon.

But should I date someone

Who ghosts me? NOPE!

Hold your fire, hold your fire!

For I will not cherish a person

Who I’d “love that I had dated once.”

Did I just say, “a person I love”?

Nope! I’m not in love.

Hold your fire,  hold your fire,

Or find me an equal.

Please don’t do this—I’m telling you—please stop!

Or, Cupid,

find me an equal.

---

 [1] Published in Anecdota Oxoniensia Vol 1, Part 5.  (1885) p. 17.

Latin Text:

Tela, Cupido, tene, quoniam non ille nec illa

sustinet esse meus, vel mea. Tela tene,

tela tene! Quid amo? Quod amat?

Non absit. At huius

quod fugit, huius ero? Non ero. Tela tene,

tela tene! Quia non teneo quod amo tenuisse.

An dixi quod amo? Non amo! Tela tene,

tela tene, vel tange parem. Nec feceris imo,

dico tibi, sine! Vel tange, Cupido, parem.

Not Each Other's Type, Anacreon fr. 358

Not Each Other’s Type

Name: Anacreon Date:  582 – 485 BCE Region:  Teos [modern Turkey] Citation: Athenaeus, Deipnosophists 13.72

According to Athenaeus, Anacreon wrote this poem to Sappho, because he was smitten by her:

Golden Haired Love

Attacked me with a purple ball.

He keeps trying to get me

To play with him.

But she who inhabits posh Lesbos [Sappho]

Takes one look at my silver hair,

Laughs at me

And swoons over someone else—a girl!

 

σφαίρῃ δεὖτέ με πορφυρῇ βάλλων χρυσοκόμης Ἔρως νήνι ποικιλοσαμβάλῳ συμπαίζειν προκαλεῖται. ἡ δ᾽ ἐστὶν γὰρ ἀπ᾽ εὐκτίτου Λέσβοὐ τὴν μὲν ἐμὴν κόμην λευκὴ γάρ καταμέμφεται, πρὸς δ᾽ ἄλλην τινὰ χάσκει.

Globo, age, me purpureo petens auricomus Amor, huic, varie me prensans, ut colludam provocat. at illa, est enim ex bene habitata Lesbo, meam quidem comam, cana cum sit, vituperat, et alli cuipiam inhiat.  Translated into Latin by Johann Schweighäuser

Anacreon [575 – 495 BCE, modern Turkey] was a Greek poet who lived during the 6th century BCE. He was born in Teos [modern Turkey] during a period of intense conflict between the Ionian and Persian forces, and did not remain in his homeland for long. Sources indicate that he found success and fame for his poetry in Samos and Athens, but little is known about his life beyond anecdotes written hundreds of years after his death.  His poetry was exceedingly popular, to the extent that an entire genre of poetry was dedicated to his style of writing; the Anacreonta are a collection of poems written in imitation of his writing style composed by Greek authors throughout the centuries. Despite Anacreon’s immense popularity and influence on literature, only fragments of his poetry remain today.

Apollo, Unlucky in Love: Faustus Sabaeus

Name: Faustus Sabaeus Date: 16th century CE   Region:  Brixia [Brescia, modern Italy] Citation:   Illustrated Myths of Ovid

While darling Venus was weeping over her slain Adonis,

Pretty Apollo wandered over and told her,

“Oh sister, one loss pains you, but

I suffer twice as much.

Although I appear happy, I am still grieving them.

My darling loves will forever live on,

Daphne, who had too much pride

And Hyacinthus, who had too little luck."

Extinctum preciosa Venus plorabat Adonim;

quum super accessit pulcher Apollo & ait,

Una, soror, te cura angit; me bina remordet,

usque adeo, laetus sim licet, ut doleam.

cari inquam semper vivetis amores,

dura nimis Daphne; fauste Hyacinthe parum.

Faustus Sabaeus [16th century, modern Italy] was a librarian of the Vatican library who composed numerous poems on mythology-based themes.

Love Shakes Me to the Core: Sappho 47

Name: Sappho Date: d. 570 BCE Region: Lesbos [modern Greece] Citation: Fragment 47

Love shook my heart

the way the wind strikes the trees on the mountaintop.

 Ἔρος δ᾿ ἐτίναξέ μοι

φρένας, ὠς ἄνεμος κὰτ ὄρος δρύσιν ἐμπέτων.

Amor animum meum quatit, velut

ventus quercos in montis summo impulit.

Sappho [d. 570 BCE, modern Greece] was universally applauded by the ancient world as the “Tenth Muse.” Because she was one of the earliest Greek lyric poets, there is very little definitive information on Sappho’s life.  It is generally agreed that Sappho was a wealthy noblewoman from the island of Lesbos who had three brothers and a daughter named Kleis. She used her prominent social position to support a cohort of other women artists, and composed many poems about them, expressing her love for them, praising their beauty, and celebrating their marriages. Whereas earlier Greek poetry was epic poetry with serious themes of gods, warfare, and the state, Sappho’s lyric poetry was emotional, intimate and personal. Her poetry centered around womanhood and womanly love, providing rare insight into the time period. The modern terms “sapphic” and “lesbian” reveal the longevity of her impact upon modern culture. Unfortunately, although her poetry was universally revered by the Greeks and Romans alike, Sappho’s works only exist as fragments, adding mysterious allure to her larger-than-life status but unfortunately hindering our understanding of her life and thoughts.

Neither the Honey Nor the Bee: Sappho 146

Name: Sappho Date:   d. 570 BCE Region:   Lesbos [modern Greece] Citation:    Fragment  146

Neither the honey nor the bee for me!

 μήτε μοι μέλι μήτε μέλισσα

Nec mihi mel nec apis

--Sappho, fragment 146; Translated into Latin by K. Masters

Sappho [d. 570 BCE, modern Greece] was universally applauded by the ancient world as the “Tenth Muse.” Because she was one of the earliest Greek lyric poets, there is very little definitive information on Sappho’s life.  It is generally agreed that Sappho was a wealthy noblewoman from the island of Lesbos who had three brothers and a daughter named Kleis. She used her prominent social position to support a cohort of other women artists, and composed many poems about them, expressing her love for them, praising their beauty, and celebrating their marriages. Whereas earlier Greek poetry was epic poetry with serious themes of gods, warfare, and the state, Sappho’s lyric poetry was emotional, intimate and personal. Her poetry centered around womanhood and womanly love, providing rare insight into the time period. The modern terms “sapphic” and “lesbian” reveal the longevity of her impact upon modern culture. Unfortunately, although her poetry was universally revered by the Greeks and Romans alike, Sappho’s works only exist as fragments, adding mysterious allure to her larger-than-life status but unfortunately hindering our understanding of her life and thoughts.

Sappho Sings of Artemis: fragment 44a

Sappho Sings of Artemis

Name: Sappho Date:   d. 570 BCE Region:   Lesbos [modern Greece] Citation:    Fragment 44a.4 – 11

But Artemis swore a serious oath [to her father Zeus]:

“Upon your head, I vow

That I will always remain a maiden,

Hunting on the desolate mountains

I will roam. Grant this to me.”

This is what she said. Zeus granted her wish.

Now men and gods alike call her Maiden, Hunter of Deer, Goddess.

Eros, stay far from her!

Ἄρτεμις δὲ θεῶν μέγαν ὄρκον ἀπώμοσε· κεφάλαν, ἄϊ πάρθενος ἔσσομαι ...[1] ων ὀρέων κορύφα̣ι̣σ’ ἔπι ...δ̣ε νεῦσον ἔμαν χάριν.” ...σ̣ε θέων μακάρων πάτηρ. ...ολον ἀγροτέραν θέο̣ι ...ι̣σιν ἐπωνύμιον μέγα. ...Ἔρος οὐδάμα πίλναται.

Diana autem deum sacramentum maximum fecit; “Per tibi numen, [Pater hominum et deum], Virgo in aeternum permaneam, Venatrix per montes desolatos errem. Des hoc, pater, mihi optem!” Hoc dicto, annuit deum pater. Mortales immortalesque hanc vocant Virginem, cervos-venatrix, deam. Amor, ne hanc aggrediaris! Translated into Latin by Kris Masters

---

[1] There is significant damage to this fragment, and the left portion of many of the lines is missing.

Sappho [d. 570 BCE, modern Greece] was universally applauded by the ancient world as the “Tenth Muse.” Because she was one of the earliest Greek lyric poets, there is very little definitive information on Sappho’s life.  It is generally agreed that Sappho was a wealthy noblewoman from the island of Lesbos who had three brothers and a daughter named Kleis. She used her prominent social position to support a cohort of other women artists, and composed many poems about them, expressing her love for them, praising their beauty, and celebrating their marriages. Whereas earlier Greek poetry was epic poetry with serious themes of gods, warfare, and the state, Sappho’s lyric poetry was emotional, intimate and personal. Her poetry centered around womanhood and womanly love, providing rare insight into the time period. The modern terms “sapphic” and “lesbian” reveal the longevity of her impact upon modern culture. Unfortunately, although her poetry was universally revered by the Greeks and Romans alike, Sappho’s works only exist as fragments, adding mysterious allure to her larger-than-life status but unfortunately hindering our understanding of her life and thoughts.

Never Forgotten: In Praise of Sappho, Greek Anthology 7.17

Name:  Tullius Laurea Date:     1st century BCE Region:    Italy Citation:    Greek Anthology 7.17

Stranger, as you pass by this Aeolian grave,

Do not tell others that I, the Lesbian poet, have died.

For this grave is the work of mortals, prepared by human hands

And will swiftly fade to oblivion.

But if you believe that I was cherished by the Muses,

That I have blessed each one with a book of poems*

Then know this: I have escaped the shadow of death

Nor will any day dawn that does have the name of Sappho upon her lips.

 * Sappho wrote nine books of poems

Tullius Laurea, Greek Anthology 7.17, Translated into Latin by Hugo Grottius

 Αἰολικὸν παρὰ τύμβον ἰών, ξένε, μή με θανοῦσαν

τὰν Μυτιληναίαν ἔννεπ᾽ ἀοιδοπόλον

τόνδε γὰρ ἀνθρώπων ἔκαμον χέρες: ἔργα δὲ φωτῶν

ἐς ταχινὴν ἔρρει τοιάδε ληθεδόνα.

ἢν δέ με Μουσάων ἐτάσῃς χάριν, ὧν ἀφ᾽ ἑκάστης

δαίμονος ἄνθος ἐμῇ θῆκα παρ᾽ ἐννεάδι,

γνώσεαι ὡς Ἀίδεω σκότον ἔκφυγον οὐδέ τις ἔσται

τῆς λυρικῆς Σαπφοῦς νώνυμος ἠέλιος.

Aeolium praetergrediens sepulcrum, hospes, ne mortuam me

dic, Mitylenaeam cantricem:

hoc enim hominum pararunt manus, et opera virorum

in celerem ruunt talia oblivionem.

si vero in-me Musarum spectas gratiam, quarum a quaque

dea florem meis apposui novem-libris,

scies me Orci tenebras effugisse, neque erit ullus

lyricae Sapphus sine nomine sol (dies).

--

Little is known about the poet Tullius Laurea except that he was one of Cicero’s freedmen. Several of his poems are preserved in the Greek Anthology.

Born this Way: Ptolemy, Tetrabiblos / Almagest 3.14

NOTE: Although this passage uses binary thinking, conflates gender and sexuality, and often uses offensive stereotypes, it is nevertheless an important text in the study of gender and sexuality, as it shows that ancient scientists not only acknowledged that same-sex desire was a natural phenomenon, but also explored possible reasons behind it.  In this passage, the scientist Ptolemy sees a link between astrological horoscopes and sexual identity. 

 

Name: Ptolemy Date: 100 – 170 CE Region: Alexandria [modern Egypt] Citation:  Tetrabiblion [Almagest] 3.14

 

Regarding [gender inversions]: Just like stated in the previous chapter, the most extreme cases are particularly evident in sexual roles, both masculine and feminine, which are not heteronormative. This information can be broken down and analyzed just like we did in the previous chapter, but now we’re looking at the sun and the moon, not Mercury, and their course in relationship with Mars and Venus.

When you notice that all of the heavenly bodies are falling under masculine signs of the Zodiac, then men will be extra-manly, but women will be excessively manly and athletic in their souls. But if Mars and Venus are also present (or both) are in the masculine house, then men become excessively lustful, insatiable, adulterous, and do inappropriate activity, while women will seek romantic activity beyond what is healthy. They will have a roaming eye, and become lesbians, for they love women, just like men do.  If only Venus is in a masculine house, they act this way discreetly, but if Mars is also in the masculine house, they act flagrantly and openly have women they call their lawful wives.

On the other hand, when these heavenly bodies are in the feminine house, then women act extra-womanly, but men will be lusty beyond what is healthy, and their souls become soft and womanly. If Venus is also in the feminine house, then women become adulterous and lusty beyond what is healthy, and they may seek any type of relationship, date anyone whatsoever, never remaining single. Even if it is shameful or against the law, they will engage in that romantic activity. Men however, will be gay and unmanly, acting womanly, seeking relationships that are not heteronormative, seeking to be a man’s boyfriend, but secretly and discreetly. However, if Mars is also in the feminine house, they act flagrantly and openly have sexual activity with men in any manner. 

ἡ δὲ περὶ τὸ παθητικόν, κατ̓ αὐτὸ πάλιν τὸ ἐξαίρετον θεωρουμένη, καταφαίνεται μάλιστα περὶ τὰς κατ̓ αὐτὸ τὸ γένος τοῦ ἄρρενος καὶ θήλεως ὑπερβολὰς καὶ ἐλλείψεις τοῦ κατὰ φύσιν, διαλαμβάνεται δὲ ἐπισκεπτικῶς κατὰ τὸν ὅμοιον τῷ προκειμένῳ τρόπον, τοῦ ἡλίου μέντοι μετὰ τῆς σελήνης ἀντὶ τοῦ Ἑρμοῦ παραλαμβανομένου καὶ τῆς τοῦ Ἄρεως σὺν τῷ τῆς Ἀφροδίτης πρὸς αὐτοὺς συνοικειώσεως: τούτων γὰρ οὕτως ὑπ̓ ὄψιν πιπτόντων, ἐὰν μὲν μόνα τὰ φῶτα ἐν ἀρρενικοῖς ᾖ ζῳδίοις, οἱ μὲν ἄνδρες ὑπερβάλλουσι τοῦ κατὰ φύσιν, αἱ δὲ γυναῖκες τοῦ παρὰ φύσιν πρὸς τὸ ἔπανδρον ἁπλῶς τῆς ψυχῆς καὶ δραστικώτερον: ἐὰν δὲ καὶ ὁ τοῦ Ἄρεως ἢ καὶ ὁ τῆς Ἀφροδίτης ἤτοι ὁπότερος ἢ καὶ ἀμφότεροι ὦσιν ἠρρενωμένοι, οἱ μὲν ἄνδρες πρὸς τὰς κατὰ φύσιν συνουσίας γίνονται καταφερεῖς καὶ μοιχικοὶ καὶ ἀκόρεστοι καὶ ἐν παντὶ καιρῷ πρόχειροι πρός τε τὰ αἰσχρὰ καὶ τὰ παράνομα τῶν ἀφροδισίων: αἱ δὲ γυναῖκες πρὸς τὰς παρὰ φύσιν ὁμιλίας λάγναι καὶ ῥιψόφθαλμοι καὶ αἱ καλούμεναι τριβάδες: διατιθέασι δὲ θηλείας, ἀνδρῶν

Plurime igitur species infirmitatum in agente parte animae contingentium sunt hae quas praediximus, quae secundum naturam suam generaliter per huiusmodi qualitates adveniant. Differentiae vero quae proprie in parte recipiente dispositionem accidunt, in augmento ac diminutione rerum naturalium masculinis & feminininis apparebunt, ad quarum prognosticationem illa via quae praedictae viae assimilantur, perveniemus. Post quam Luna Solem quemadmodum ibi cum Luna Mercurium posuerimus, et Veneris ac Martis ad ipsos similitudinem observaverimus. Post horum igitur explanationem ostendemus, quod si sola luminaria in signis masculinis fuerint, ea quae sibi naturalia sunt viri nimis exercebunt. Mulieres autem quae sibi contra naturam sunt nimium operabuntur, et quae sibi naturalia sunt in vires & masculinitatem animae convertenetur. Item si Mars & Venus vel eorum alter masculinus fuerit, in naturalibus rebus

ἔργα ἐπιτελοῦσαι. κἂν μὲν μόνος ὁ τῆς Ἀφροδίτης ἠρρενωμένος ᾖ, λάθρα καὶ οὐκ ἀναφανδόν: ἐὰν δὲ καὶ ὁ τοῦ Ἄρεως, ἄντικρυς ὥστε ἐνίοτε καὶ νομίμας ὥσπερ γυναῖκας τὰς διατιθεμένας ἀναδεικνύειν. Τὸ δ̓ ἐναντίον, τῶν φωτῶν κατὰ τὸν ἐκκείμενον σχηματισμὸν ἐν θηλυκοῖς ζῳδίοις ὑπαρχόντων μόνων, αἱ μὲν γυναῖκες ὑπερβάλλουσι τοῦ κατὰ φύσιν, οἱ δὲ ἄνδρες τοῦ παρὰ φύσιν, πρὸς τὸ εὔθρυπτον καὶ τεθηλυσμένον τῆς ψυχῆς: ἐὰν δὲ καὶ ὁ τῆς Ἀφροδίτης ᾖ τεθηλυσμένος, αἱ μὲν γυναῖκες καταφερεῖς τε καὶ μοιχάδες καὶ λάγναι γίνονται πρὸς τὸ διατίθεσθαι κατὰ φύσιν ἐν παντί τε καιρῷ καὶ ὐπὸ παντὸς οὑτινοσοῦν, ὡς μηδενὸς ἁπλῶς, ἐάν τε αἰσχρὸν ᾖ, ἐάν τε παράνομον, ἀπέχεσθαι τῶν ἀφροδισίων: οἱ δὲ ἄνδρες μαλακοί τε καὶ σαθροὶ πρὸς τὰς παρὰ φύσιν συνουσίας καὶ γυναικῶν ἔργα, διατιθέμενοι παθητικῶς, ἀποκρύφως μέντοι καὶ λεληθότως: ἐὰν δὲ καὶ ὁ τοῦ Ἄρεως ᾖ τεθηλυσμένος, ἄντικρυς καὶ μετὰ παρρησίας ἀναισχυντοῦσι, τὰ προκείμενα καθ̓ ἑκάτερον εἶδος ἀποτελοῦντες.

Veneris valde conversabuntur homines & nimis circa vitium illud solicitabuntur. Ex rebus etiam [amores] turpia quae contra legem fuerint, festinanter facere desiderabunt. Mulieres autem innaturales actus cupidinis plus aequo perpetrabunt, et erunt thahaherat, eo quod ad invicem in agendo commiscebuntur. Si Venus autem sola masculina fuerit id quod inde perpetrabunt erit occultum et ignorabitur. Sed si Mars masculinus extiterit, ita erit illud manifestum quod quandoque mulieres cum eis conversabuntur quasi sibi proprias uxores fore demonstrabunt. Quod si eundem stellae in praedicti contrarium fuerint, id est, ut sola luminaria cum praedictis qualitatibus in signis femininis extiterint, mulieres ea quae sibi naturalia sunt operabuntur. Viri autem ea quae sibi sunt contra naturam committent, et cum mollitie ac feminitate anima naturalia transgredientur. Item si sola Venus feminina fuerit, illegitimos actus Veneris mulieres nimis adimplebunt, frequentius tamen ad naturalia declinabunt et cum quolibet, adeo quod nulli [amorem] denegabunt seu de

formis seu contra legem fuerit, viri autem erunt effeminati, ac molles, et ad innaturales actus Veneris proclvio res, neminem etiam ab illicito [amore] prohiberebunt, praeter quod occulte illud perpetrabunt. Translated into Latin by George of Trebizond

 Ptolemy's Hypothesis in chart form: 

	MASCULINE HOUSE	FEMININE HOUSE
SUN & MOON	MEN: excessively manly WOMEN: excessively manly & athletic	MEN: excessively womanly & soft WOMEN: excessively womanly
+ MARS	MEN: uncontrollable and openly lusty WOMEN: open lesbian relationships / have wives	MEN: openly gay relationships WOMEN: uncontrollable and openly lusty
+ VENUS	MEN: lusty & adulterous but discreet WOMEN: lusty lesbians but discreet	MEN: lusty & gay but discreet WOMEN: lusty & adulterous but discreet
SUN, MOON, + MARS + VENUS	MEN: excessively lusty, adulterous WOMEN: lusty, roaming eye, lesbians [seek women lovers like men do]	MEN: excessively lusty, gay WOMEN: uncontrollable and openly lusty

Ptolemy [Claudius Ptolemy; 2^nd century CE, modern Egypt] was one of the most important scientific minds of the ancient world. He was a Greek scholar who lived in Alexandria, and his works provide us with crucial insight into Greco-Roman scientific thought of that time period. His work on astronomy, Tetrabiblios / Almagest, was one of the most important scientific works of the Middle Ages. For hundreds of years, the original Greek version was lost, and it was preserved only in Arabic translation.