The Brothers Poem

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Category: Literature

Published on Friday, 27 April 2018 15:18

Today we will get a small insight in the Greek culture by taking a closer look at ancient poetry. The Brothers poem was written by the ancient Greek poet Sappho.  is known for her lyric poetry which is written to be sung. Unfortunately most of her poetry got lost but just four years ago – in 2014 - the Brothers poem was rediscovered on a papyrus by Dirk Obbink. Most of the poem survived, even though the beginning has been lost. It is uncertain how many stanzas are missing.

 The fragment belongs to a series of poems and writes about her brothers. The poem itself is formed like a speech from an unnamed speaker, who is supposed to be Sappho herself, to an unknown receiver. The speaker criticizes the receiver to constantly speak about a safe return of the brother of Sappho, while he should tell the truth, which is that his destiny is in the lap of the gods and that he should pray for his life.

In the second part of the poem Sappho speaks about her other brother Larichos, for whom he wishes to grow up fast to relieve her family from their troubles. Scholars consider it to be as valuable as a historical source. Still there is a discussion about whether Sappho is the original author of the poem and if the two brothers are historical or fictional.

 The Brothers poem is written in the Sapphic stanzas – a metre which revers to the name of Sappho. Three longer stanzas are followed by one shorter one. Now that we have some closer information about the history and the content,  let us read trough the piece of ancient Greece poetry in it’s English translation.

… But you’re always chattering that Kharaxos            
comes, his ship with fully stuffed hold. As to that,
Zeus and the gods only know, but these thoughts should
not be in your head.

Instead let me go, having been commanded
to offer many prayers to Hera the Queen,
that his undamaged ship should deliver up
Kharaxos to us

here, finding us safe and serene. And as for
the rest of it, to higher spirits leave it
now, for calm seas often follow after the
squalling of a storm;

for those who’s fortunes they of Olympos send
a spirit to in receipt of great blessings
and prosperity.

And if Larikhos raises his head to the
fullest, and he shall therefore become a man,
from this heavy-weighing turn from utter disaster
into joy, are depression we shall
lift up ours and stand.