sappho - marriage

Created by

Anne-Laure Mukosa

Cards (9)

Loeb 31 - He is as blessed as a god  
Epithalamium - observing a wedding.
Could be read as tongue-in-cheek, complimenting the bride
Loeb 50 - A handsome man is only good to look at 
Possibly said at a wedding as a comedic dig at the groom - moralising/didactic fragment -> “a handsome man is only good to look at, a good man will become handsome” (chiasmus)
Calame’s view here, Sappho giving marriage advice
Loeb 94 - Honestly, I want to die 
This sexual memory recalled as if it is THEIR wedding night - slowly undressing her from the head down
Addressing all the senses - luxurious + intimate
Loeb 105a - Just like the sweet apple  
Reassuring a young girl that it is not her time to marry and she will be picked by the “apple pickers” soon!
Waiting for her to mature/out of the league of these particular men - prized in superlatives
Loeb 110 - the doorkeeper 
An epithalamium which references the “doorkeeper” who would guard the door while the friends of the couple would feign an escape.
Threatening aspect of marriage that he is guarding the door, lightening the mood
Loeb 111 - Raise the roof  
An epithalamium - on the way to the bridal chamber, a comic marriage song
“Raise the roof, Hymenaeus!” - god of marriage ceremonies who supposedly attended every marriage or else the marriage would be doomed. In calling him, speaker alleviates the anxiety of the wedding day, pleasing the bride
Loeb 112 - Lucky bridgegroom
An epithalamium also.
Envious tone, centering the woman even when discussing the groom - “lucky bridegroom” is only thus because he has the “girl of your dreams”
Gently mocking the groom, likely the bride knew Sappho better -> casual joking to ease the anxieties of the wedding day
Loeb 146 - Neither the honey 
“Neither the honey nor the bee is for me” - swearing off the institution of marriage, neither children nor marriage
Loeb 160 - Now for my companions 
“Now for my companions, I will sing these songs beautiful” - wedding or symposia (Parker)