Welcome to Sweetbitter, a podcast where we investigate the truth and controversy surrounding Sappho her life, the Isle of Lesbos and her relevance today, Each episode we'll deep dive into a part of the mystery of Sappho with insights from academics, translators, performers, and poets.

Launching October 15th 2020. You can follow us on Twitter and Instagram @sweetbitterpod, or support us on Patreon.

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On the throne of many hues, Immortal Aphrodite,

child of Zeus, weaving wiles: I beg you,

do not break my spirit, O Queen,

with pain or sorrow

but come--if ever before from far away

you heard my voice and listened,

and leaving your father's

golden home you came,

your chariot yoked with lovely sparrows

drawing you quickly over the dark earth

in a whirling cloud of wings down

the sky through midair,

suddenly here. Blessed One, with a smile

on your deathless face, you ask

what have I suffered again

and why do I call again

and what in my wild heart do I most wish

would happen: "Once again who must I

persuade to turn back to your love?

Sappho, who wrongs you?

If now she flees, soon she'll chase.

If rejecting gifts, then she'll give.

If not loving, soon she'll love

even against her will."

Come to me now--release me from these

troubles, everything my heart longs

to have fulfilled, fulfill, and you

be my ally.

Translation by Rayor

Rayor, Diane. Sappho: A New Translation of the Complete Works, Cambridge University Press, 2014. Introduction & notes by André Lardinois.

Thank you for listening to our episode zero! You can follow us on Twitter & Instagram @sweetbitterpod. You can support us on patreon.com/sweetbitter - sign up before November 1st at any level for a free Sweetbitter tote bag.

Click here for episode transcript

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Some men say and army of horses and some men say an army on foot

and some men say an army of ships is the most beautiful thing

on the black earth. But I say it is

what you love.

Easy to make this understood by all.

For she who overcame everyone

in beauty (Helen)

left her fine husband

behind and went sailing to Troy.

Not for her children nor her dear parents

had she a thought, no-

]led her astray

]for

]lightly

]reminded me now of Anaktoria

who is gone.

I would rather see her lovely step

and the motion of light on her face

than chariots of Lydians or ranks

of footsoldiers in arms

] not possible to happen

] to pay for a share

]

]

]

]

]

toward[

]

]

]

out of the unexpected.

Translation by Carson

Sappho, , and Anne Carson. If Not, Winter: Fragments of Sappho. , 2002.

Thank you for listening to our first episode! You can follow us on Twitter & Instagram @sweetbitterpod. You can support us on patreon.com/sweetbitter - sign up before November 1st at any level for a free Sweetbitter tote bag.

Our guests this episode were Chris Mason from Olds Songs, Marguerite Johnson and Diane Rayor. You can learn more about our guests and where to find them here.

You can find the episode transcript here

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I simply wish to die.

Weeping she left me.

and told me this, too:

We've suffered terribly, Sappho.

I leave you against my will.

I answered: Go happily

and remember me --

you know how we cared for you.

If not, let me remind you

*

. . . the lovely times we shared.

Many crowns of violets,

roses, and crocuses together

. . . you put on by my side

and many scented wreaths

woven from blossoms

around your delicate throat.

And . . . with pure, sweet oil

[for a queen] . . .

you anointed . . .

and on soft beds

. . . delicate . . .

you quenched your desire.

Not any . . .

no holy site . . .

we left uncovered,

no grove . . . dance

. . . sound

Translation by Rayor.

Rayor, Diane. Sappho: A New Translation of the Complete Works, Cambridge University Press, 2014. Introduction & notes by André Lardinois.

Thank you for listening! You can follow us on Twitter & Instagram @sweetbitterpod. You can support us on patreon.com/sweetbitter - sign up before November 1st at any level for a free Sweetbitter tote bag.

Our guests this episode were Marguerite Johnson, Jane Montgomery Griffiths, Sandra Boehringer (translation by Annie McCarthy) and Diane Rayor. You can learn more about our guests and where to find them here.

You can find the episode transcript here

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Once again Love, that loosener of limbs,

bittersweet and inescapable, crawling thing,

seizes me.

Translation by Rayor.

Rayor, Diane. Sappho: A New Translation of the Complete Works, Cambridge University Press, 2014. Introduction & notes by André Lardinois.

Thank you for listening! You can follow us on Twitter & Instagram @sweetbitterpod. You can support us on patreon.com/sweetbitter.

Our guests this episode were Marguerite Johnson, Alex Purves, Jade Esteban Estrada and Diane Rayor. You can learn more about our guests and where to find them here.

You can find the episode transcript here

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When you lie dead, no one will remember you

For you have no share in the Muses’ roses.

No, flitting aimlessly about,

You will wildly roam,

a shade amidst the shadowy dead.

Translated by Dubnoff

Thank you for listening! You can follow us on Twitter & Instagram @sweetbitterpod. You can support us on patreon.com/sweetbitter.

Our guests this episode were Marguerite Johnson and Malcolm Choat. You can learn more about our guests and where to find them here.

You can find the episode transcript here

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]

]

]

]

]running away

]bitten

]

]

]you

]makes a way with the mouth

]beautiful gifts children

]songdelighting clear sounding lyre

]all my skin old age already

hair turned white after black

]knees do not carry

]like fawns

]but what could I do?

]not possible to become

]Dawn with arms of roses

]bringing to the ends of the earth

]yet seized

]wife

]imagines

]might bestow

But I love delicacy and this to me—

the brilliance and beauty of the sun—desire has allotted.

Translation by Carson

Thank you for listening! You can follow us on Twitter & Instagram @sweetbitterpod. You can support us on patreon.com/sweetbitter.

If you want to know more about Eurocentrism in papyrology, please follow Usama’s blog: Everyday Orientalism. Ariel’s book Veritas: A Harvard Professor, a Con Man & the Gospel of Jesus’s Wife is out wherever you buy books - here’s it's listing our favorite local.

If you want to listen to another cool podcast all about the Hobby Lobby, check out the Behind the Bastards episode.

Our guests this episode were Malcolm Choat, Ariel Sabar, Mike Sampson & Usama Gad. You can learn more about our guests and where to find them here.

You can find the episode transcript here

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Grab a drink and join us for a holiday bonus episode with our friend Liv Albert from Let’s Talk About Myths Baby. We talk about Aphrodite, Greek Mythology and the patriarchy.

Thank you for listening! You can follow us on Twitter & Instagram @sweetbitterpod. You can support us on patreon.com/sweetbitter.

You can find Let’s Talk About Myths Baby anywhere you find podcasts and on social media @mythsbaby.

You can find the episode transcript here

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.